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( Frontispiece.) 


Reading from Homer. 




ECLECTIC SCHOOL READINGS 


STORY OF ULYSSES 



M. CLARKE 

»» 


AUTHOR OF “ STORY OF TROY," “ STORY OF ^NEAS,” 
"STORY OF CYESAR ” 



NEW YORK-:. CINCINNATI-:. CHICAGO 

AMERICAN BOOK COMPANY 


TWO COPIES RECEIVED, 

library of Gcfigfgg* 

®«lM0f»fcV f&2 

MAY 16 1800 ,i 

HogHUr of Goryfigitk U1C 

SECOND COPY, 

fYL&A . 2'R'/ r_ , 

^Cr« 


61646 

Copyright, 1900, by 
AMERICAN BOOK COMPANY. 


STORY OF ULYSSES. 


W. P. I 


CONTENTS. 


INTRODUCTION: 

PAGE 

I. Troy 


II. Judgment of Paris 8 

III. Abduction of Helen 9 

IV. The Trojan War 11 

V. The Odyssey 14 

VI. The Gods 15 


CHAPTER 

I. Feigning Madness 21 

II. The Wooden Horse 27 


III. Among the Ciconians 


IV. The Lotus Eaters 38 

V. The Land of the Cyclops 40 

VI. In the Cyclops’ Cave 43 

VII. Polyphemus punished 50 

VIII. The King of the Winds 61 

IX; Among the L^estrygonians 65 

X. In Circe’s Isle 67 

XI. In the Regions of the Dead 74 

XII. Dread Sights in Pluto’s Realm 82 

XIII. Circe’s Prophecy and Warning 87 

XIV. The Sirens 91 

XV. Scylla and Charybdis 94 

XVI. The Oxen of the Sun 97 


5 


6 


CHAPTER 

XVII. 

In Calypso’s Island 






PAGE 

103 

XVIII. 

Minerva visits Telemachus . 






i °5 

XIX. 

Penelope’s Web 






1 10 

XX. 

Telemachus goes on a Voyage 






”5 

XXI. 

Telemachus visits King Nestor 






119 

XXII. 

In the Palace of Menelaus . 






124 

XXIII. 

The Old Man of the Sea . 






131 

XXIV. 

The Dream of Penelope 






136 

XXV. 

A Voyage on a Raft 






139 

XXVI. 

Cast Ashore in Ph^acia 






151 

XXVII. 

The Palace of Alcinous 






161 

XXVIII. 

Honored by the Ph^acians 






166 

XXIX. 

Ithaca at Last 






176 

XXX. 

Disguised as a Beggar . 






182 

XXXI. 

Eum^eus, the Swineherd 






188 

XXXII. 

Telemachus returns to Ithaca 






*95 

XXXIII. 

Telemachus meets his Father 






200 

XXXIV. 

The Insolent Goatherd 






211 

XXXV. 

The Faithful Dog Argus 






2I 5 

XXXVI. 

The Beggar Irus . 






219 

XXXVII. 

Discovered by the Scar 






226 

XXXVIII. 

The Vision of Penelope 






235 

XXXIX. 

The Warning of Theoclymenus 






238 

XL. 

The Contest of the Bow 






244 

XLI. 

The Destruction of the Suitors 






254 

XLII. 

Penelope Happy 






262 

XLIII. 

A League of Peace 


. 




269 

Pronunciation of Proper Names 






281 


INTRODUCTION. 


I. TROY. 

In this book we are to tell of the wonderful 
adventures of the Greek chief or king, U-lys'ses, 
during his long voyage home to his native island, 
Ith'a-ca, after the siege and destruction of Troy, — 
an event much celebrated in the poetry and legend- 
ary history of ancient times. 

Troy was a great and rich city of A'si-a Mi'nor. 
It was situated on the northwest coast, about three 
miles from the shore of the Ai-ge'an Sea, at the 
foot of Mount Tda, and not far from the entrance 
to the channel formerly called the Hel'les-pont, but 
now known as the Dar-da-nelles'. 

One of the kings of Troy was named Hus, and 
from him the city was called Il'i-um or Il'i-on. His 
grandson, Pri'am, was king of Troy during the 
famous siege. This Priam, we are told, had fifty 
sons. They were all brave warriors, as kings and 
princes had to be in those days, when there were 
many wars, and when it was part of the duty of a 


7 


8 


king to lead his soldiers in the field of battle, and 
fight valiantly at their head. In ancient times a 
“ good king ” meant a king who was a strong and 
brave man and a good fighter, who could defend 
his people well against the attacks of enemies. 

II. JUDGMENT OF PARIS. 

The bravest of King Priam’s sons was Hec'tor. 
He was commander of the armies of Troy during 
the greater part of the siege, and he was so valiant 
and skillful and wise a commander that while he 
lived the Greeks were not able to take the city. 
But in the Greek army there was a warrior braver 
and greater even than Hector. This was the fa- 
mous A-chiHes, son of Pe'leus, king of Thes'sa-ly. 
Achilles killed Hector in single combat, but soon 
after he was himself killed by Par'is, another of 
Priam’s sons. 

It was this Paris, also named Al-ex-an'der, who 
brought about the ruin of Troy by provoking the 
great war, which ended in the destruction of the 
city. He was a very handsome young prince, and 
once when there was a dispute between the three 
goddesses, Ju'no, Ve'nus, and Mi-ner'va, as to which 
was the most beautiful, he was appointed by Ju'pi- 
ter, king of the gods, to settle the dispute. The 


9 


three goddesses were required to appear before him 
on Mount I'da, so that he might see their charms 
with his own eyes, and be the better able to give a 
just decision. Each goddess tried by bribes to per- 
suade Paris to decide in her favor. Juno offered 
him wealth and power ; Minerva promised him 
great wisdom; Venus tempted him by an offer of 
the fairest woman in the world for his wife. The 
Tro'jan prince already had a wife, the charming 
young nymph, CE-no'ne, who loved him dearly ; but 
he was weak enough to yield to the inducement 
offered by the goddess of beauty, and so gave 
judgment in her favor. 


III. ABDUCTION OF HELEN. 

The fairest woman in the world at that time 
was Hel'en, wife of Men-e-la'us, king of Lac-e-dae- 
mo'ni-a, or Spar'ta, in Greece. The old legends tell 
us how Paris, prompted and directed by Venus, 
sailed from Troy with a number of ships and com- 
panions, and, arriving in Greece, made his way to 
the royal palace of Sparta. Here he and his ret- 
inue were honorably received by King Menelaus, 
who had no suspicion of the object of the Trojan 
prince’s visit. This, however, was soon disclosed. 
Some time previous to the arrival of Paris, the 



( 10 ) 


Abduction of Helen 


II 


Spartan king had accepted an invitation to join a 
hunting expedition in the island of Crete. On 
leaving home for this purpose, he intrusted to his 
wife, the beauteous Queen Helen, the duty of 
entertaining his Trojan guests until his return. 

The absence of Menelaus was the opportunity 
desired by Paris. He told Helen of the promise 
of Venus, and, making her believe that it was the 
will of the gods that she should be his wife, he 
induced her to abandon her home and her husband 
and fly with him to Troy. 

From her husband’s stranger-sheltering home 
He tempted Helen o’er the ocean foam. 

Elton, Colutkus. 

Besides taking away Helen, he also carried off a 
large quantity of gold and other valuable things 
from the palace of the Spartan king. 

IV. THE TROJAN WAR. 

OATH OF THE SUITORS. 

When word of what had happened was brought 
to Menelaus, he speedily returned to Sparta, filled 
with grief and anger, and he immediately began 
to take steps to avenge the base conduct of the 
Trojan prince. 

At that time Greece, or Hellas, as it was called, 


2 


was divided into many separate states or kingdoms, 
each ruled by its own king. The greatest and 
most powerful of these kings was Ag-a-mem'non, 
king of My-ce'nae. He was the brother of Mene- 
laus, and his wife, Clyt-em-nes'tra, was Helen’s 
sister. 

When Helen was a maiden, the fame of her 
beauty brought all the young princes of Hellas 
to the court of her father, Tyn'da-rus, to seek 
her in marriage. Tyndarus, who was then king 
of Sparta, was thus placed in an embarrassing 
situation. He feared that by giving Helen to 
any one of the princes he should offend and draw 
upon himself the enmity of all the others. At 
last, on the advice of Ulysses, who was himself 
one of the suitors for the hand of Helen, Tyn- 
darus resolved to allow his daughter to choose for 
herself, but at the same time to require all the 
princes to promise on oath that they would sub- 
mit to her decision, and that if any attempt should 
be made to carry her away from the husband of 
her choice, they would join in protecting her and 
in punishing the offender. 

It may appear to us to have been very absurd 
to require such an oath, but it was not so con- 
sidered in those ancient times when kings and 
princes very often had little regard for justice, 


13 


and when none were secure in the possession 
and enjoyment of their property except those 
who were strong enough to defend it by force. 
The kings and chiefs of Hellas, therefore, took 
oath to defend Helen and her husband against 4 
all violence. Helen then made choice of Menelaus 
and they were married, and, on the death of Tyn- 
darus, Menelaus became king of Sparta. 

When Menelaus returned home, after Helen had 
been carried off, he summoned the kings and 
princes, and told them of the outrage committed by 
Paris. Then he called upon them to keep their 
oath and join with him in avenging the wrong. 
They all consented and at once resolved to declare 
war against Troy. But first they sent ambassadors 
to King Priam to demand the restitution of Helen 
and the treasures which Paris had taken away. 

Unwisely and unhappily for himself and his 
family and country, the Trojan king refused this 
demand, and upon the return of the ambassadors, 
one of whom was Ulysses, the chiefs of Hellas set 
about to prepare for war. Ten long years it took 
them to get ready, and then in more than a thou- 
sand ships the Greeks, one hundred thousand in 
number, sailed across the Hvgean Sea, and landed 
and encamped on the Trojan coast, just in view 
of the famous city of Troy. 


14 


Here for ten years more was waged the great 
struggle known as the siege of Troy. The city 
was protected by walls strong enough to resist all 
the strength of the enemy, and it was defended by 
numerous and powerful forces that had come from 
many parts of Asia to help the Trojans. Great 
warriors there were on both sides. King Aga- 
memnon was commander-in-chief of the Greeks, 
and among the other valiant princes of Hellas 
who distinguished themselves in the war were 
Achilles and Nes-tor, the two A'jax-es, Menelaus 
and Ulysses, Di-o-me'de and Ne-op-tore-mus, and 
many more. Hector was the foremost champion 
on the Trojan side. With him were numbers of 
renowned warriors including Sar-pe'don and Mem'- 
non and Rhe'sus and /E-ne'as besides Paris and 
several of the other sons of Priam. 

How the city was at length taken and destroyed 
in the tenth year of the war, comes within the 
Story of Ulysses, and will therefore be related 
further on. 

V. THE ODYSSEY. 

The praises of the heroes of the Trojan War 
were much celebrated by the poets of ancient times. 
Ho'mer, the first and greatest of those poets, who 
is said to have lived about nine hundred years 


i5 


before the birth of Christ, describes some of the 
principal events of the siege in his famous poem 
called the Iliad. This poem is written in the Greek 
language, and is so named because it tells- about 
Ilium, or Troy. It is universally regarded as the 
most beautiful poetic production of any age or 
time. Another great poem by Homer is the Od'ys- 
sey. It is so called because it tells of the adven- 
tures of Ulysses, or O-dys'seus, which is the Greek 
form of the name. In the following pages we 
make some quotations from the Odyssey as trans- 
lated into English by our American poet, William 
Cullen Bryant, and also some from the translation 
by the English poet, Alexander Pope. 


VI. THE GODS. 

The ancient Greeks, like the ancient inhabitants 
of most other countries, believed in a great many 
gods. According to their religion, all parts of the 
universe were ruled by different gods. They be- 
lieved that there were gods of war and of peace, 
gods of music and of poetry, and of all the arts and 
occupations in which men were engaged. 

In some respects the gods were like human 
beings. In appearance they were represented as 
like men and women, and like men and women 



Homer 








i7 


they married and had children. But they were far 
more powerful than men, and being gods they 
never died, and never grew old. They could 
change themselves into any form. They could 
make themselves visible and invisible at pleasure, 
and they could travel through the skies, or over the 
earth or ocean, with the rapidity of lightning. They 
were greatly feared by men, and when any disaster 
occurred, — if lives were lost by earthquakes, or by 
any other calamity, — it was said to be a punish- 
ment sent by the gods. 

The usual place of residence of the principal 
gods was on the top of Mount O-lym'pus in Greece. 
Here they dwelt in golden palaces, and feasted at 
grand banquets. Their food was ambrosia, which 
conferred immortality and perpetual youth on those 
who partook of it, and their drink was a delicious 
wine called nectar. 

Grand temples were erected to the gods in all 
the principal cities. At their shrines costly gifts in 
gold and silver were presented, and on their altars, 
sometimes built in the open air, beasts were killed 
and portions of the flesh burned as sacrifice. Such 
offerings were supposed to be very pleasing to the 
gods. 

The greatest and most powerful of the gods was 
called Jupiter, or Jove, by the Romans, and Zeus 


STO. OF ULYSSES — 2 


i8 


by the Greeks. He was king of the gods. The 
wife of Jupiter, and queen of heaven, was called 
Juno by the Romans, and by the Greeks, He'ra; 
and so each of the gods had a Greek name and a 
Roman name. One of the daughters of Jupiter, 
called Venus, or Aph-ro-di'te, was the goddess of 
beauty. Nep'tune, or Po-sei'don, was god of the sea. 
He is usually represented as bearing in his hand 
a trident, or three-pronged scepter, the emblem of 
his authority. Mars, or A'res, was the god of war, 
and Plu'to, also called Ha'des, was the god of the 
lower regions, or regions of the dead. A-pol'lo, or 
Phoe'bus, was the god of the sun, and of medicine, 
music, and poetry. 

The other principal deities of the ancient 
Greeks were Minerva, or A-the'ne, goddess of wis- 
dom, Di-an'a, or Ar'te-mis, goddess of the moon 
and of the chase, Vul'can, god of fire, Mer'cu-ry, 
or Her'mes, usually represented as the messenger 
of Jupiter, Bac'chus, or Di-o-ny'sus, god of wine, 
Ce'res, or De-me'ter, goddess of the harvest, and 
Ves'ta, or Hes'ti-a, goddess of the hearth. 

The gods, it was believed, made their will known 
to men in various ways : sometimes by dreams, 
sometimes by appearing on earth under different 
forms, and speaking directly to kings and warriors. 
Very often men learned the will of the gods by con- 


i9 


suiting seers and soothsayers, or augurs. These 
were persons who were supposed to have the power 
of foretelling events. 

There were temples also where the gods gave 
answers through priests. Such answers were called 
oracles, and this name was also given to the priests. 
The most celebrated oracle of ancient times, was 
that of Apollo at Del'phi, in Greece. People came 
from all parts of the world to consult the god at 
this place, and the answers were given by a priest- 
ess called Pyth'i-a. 

The most ancient oracle of Greece was at Do- 
do'na, a city of Epirus. This oracle, it is said, was 
founded by a dove. According to the legend, two 
black doves took their flight from Thebes in Egypt. 
One of them flew to the temple of Jupiter in Libya, 
a country of Africa; the other flew to Dodona, and 
each spoke in a voice as of a human being telling 
the people that Jupiter had consecrated the place 
and would in future give oracles there. 




( 20 ) 


STORY OF ULYSSES. 


I. FEIGNING MADNESS. 

If you look at the map of Greece (see opposite 
page) you will find, near the northwest coast, in 
the I-o'ni-an Sea, the small island of Ithaca. This 
was once a very famous island, for it was the birth- 
place and home of Ulysses, celebrated in ancient 
times both as a brave warrior and a man “ skilled 
in all kinds of stratagems and prudent in counsel.” 

The father of Ulysses was La-er'tes, king of 
Ithaca. He was a good father and took care to 
have his son instructed in all things which in those 
days it was proper for young princes to know. 
He took care, especially, to make him a good 
soldier. Young Ulysses was taught to handle 
the bow and arrow, the long spear or javelin, and 
the sword and dagger, which were the weapons 
used in war by the ancient Greeks. Ulysses was 
also trained in all kinds of athletic exercises, such 
as running and boxing and wrestling and throwing 
heavy stones or quoits. And when he grew up to 


21 


22 


be a man he was so well fit to be a king that La- 
ertes resigned the crown in his favor, and Ulysses 
became king of Ithaca. 

We have seen that it was on the advice of Ulysses 
that Tyndarus required all the suitors for the hand 
of Helen to take oath that they would support her 
in her choice. In gratitude for his wise counsel 
Tyndarus gave Ulysses a very beautiful young 
princess to be his wife. Her name was Pe-neko-pe, 
and she was a daughter of I-ca'ri-us, brother of 
Tyndarus. Icarius loved his daughter so much 
that he wished her and Ulysses to reside with him 
in Lacedaemonia after their marriage, but Ulysses 
preferred his own island home, and so he and his 
young wife sailed away to Ithaca. Here they lived 
happily together, and after a time they became 
still more happy in having a little son to whom 
they gave the name Te-lem'a-chus. 

But the happiness of the young king and queen 
of Ithaca was not of long duration. When Aga- 
memnon and the other chiefs of Hellas had com- 
pleted their preparations for war against Troy, they 
summoned Ulysses to join them, in accordance with 
the oath which he as well as all the other Greek 
princes had taken at the time of the marriage of 
Helen and Menelaus. Ulysses was very unwilling 
to leave his wife and son, whom he tenderly loved. 


23 


A soothsayer had told him that if he went to the 
war he would not return for twenty years; and so 
he paid no attention to the call of the commander- 
in-chief. Then Agamemnon resolved to go him- 
self to Ithaca to use his personal influence with 
the unwilling Ulysses, who even at that time was 
well known all over Greece, not only as a valiant 
soldier but as a man skilled in all kinds of strategy 
or artifice. 

This sort of wisdom, called cunning or craft, was 
indeed the quality for which Ulysses was most cele- 
brated ; and it was a quality highly esteemed in 
ancient times, for it made men better able to defend 
themselves against enemies in war. Homer hardly 
ever mentions the king of Ithaca except with some 
expression designating his well-known character, 
such as “ the crafty Ulysses ” or “ the very shrewd 
Ulysses,” or “the man of many arts.” 

Ulysses, man of many arts, 

Son of Laertes, reared in Ithaca, 

That rugged isle, and skilled in every form 
Of shrewd device, and action wisely planned. 

Bryant, Iliad % Book III. 

Such a man as this could not well be spared from 
the great war, and so Agamemnon went to Ithaca * 
to persuade Ulysses to join the expedition against 



( 24 ) 


Ulysses Feigning Madness. 


25 


Troy. He took with him his brother Menelaus 
and a chief named Pal-a-me'des, who was also very 
shrewd and crafty, as we shall presently see. 

When Ulysses heard of their arrival in Ithaca, 
he attempted to deceive them by a trick quite in 
keeping with his character. He pretended to be 
insane, and in order to make Agamemnon and his 
companions believe that he was really mad, he set 
about plowing the beach at the seaside with a horse 
and an ox yoked together, and brought salt to scat- 
ter over the plowed sand, as if it were seed corn. 

But Palamedes saw through this artful scheme, 
and by another device equally shrewd he proved 
that Ulysses was only feigning madness. He took 
the young Telemachus down to the beach, and laid 
him on the sand just in front of the father’s plow. 
Ulysses instantly turned the team aside so as not 
to injure his child, and by so doing showed that 
he was in his full senses. 

His pretense of madness thus exposed, Ulysses 
had no reasonable excuse for remaining at home, 
so he was obliged to consent to join his brother 
princes in their expedition against Troy. And 
having resolved to do so, he set about his prepa- 
rations with spirit and energy. He got together 
a number of brave men from the neighboring 
islands that were subject to his rule, and in a fleet 


2 6 


of twelve ships or galleys with a hundred soldiers 
in each, he set sail for Au'lis, on the eastern coast 
of Greece, where the other chiefs and kings had 
already assembled their forces. When Ulysses ar- 
rived he found a vast fleet numbering more than 
a thousand ships in the harbor of Aulis and along 
the shores. This fleet carried a hundred thousand 
men, with Agamemnon as their general, across the 
sea to the opposite coast of Asia. Then began 
the Trojan War, which is so much celebrated by 
the poets and historians of ancient times. 



II. THE WOODEN HORSE. 


During the ten years’ siege of Troy Ulysses per- 
formed many great deeds of valor, but it was by his 
various artifices that he did best service against 
the enemy. One of his most noted achievements 
was the stealing of the Pal-la'di-um from the citadel 
of Troy. The Palladium was a wooden statue of 
the goddess Minerva (called by the Greeks Pallas). 
It was said to have dropped down from heaven 
in front of the tent of Ilus when he was about to 
begin the building of the city. On the spot where 
he found the statue he built the citadel or fort, and 
here the Palladium was kept with great care, for the 
Trojans believed that on its preservation depended 
the safety of their city and country. 

Ulysses learned from a soothsayer that Troy 
could not be taken while the Palladium remained 
within its walls, and so he resolved to steal it. 
With this purpose he entered the city, after deceiv- 
ing the guards at the gate by representing him- 
self as a Greek slave escaping from his master who 
had cruelly ill-treated him. 

27 


28 


“ He had given himself 
Unseemly stripes, and o’er his shoulders flung 
Vile garments like a slave’s, and entered thus 
The enemy’s town, and walked its spacious streets. 
Another man he seemed in that disguise.” 

Bryant, Odyssey, Book IV. 


Helen saw and recognized Ulysses in his disguise, 
and she had a secret meeting with him and told him 
how to get the Palladium ; for she now repented of 
her folly, and longed to get back to her home and 
husband in Sparta. 

“ I already longed 
For my old home, and deeply I deplored 
The evil fate that Venus brought on me, 

Who led me thither from my own dear land, 

And from my lawful spouse.” 

Bryant, Odyssey, Book IV. 


After getting from Helen the information about 
the statue, Ulysses contrived to leave the city with- 
out being recognized. In a few days he returned, 
accompanied by Diomede. They entered the city 
by scaling the walls at night ; Diomede climbed 
on the shoulders of Ulysses and made his way into 
the citadel ; there he found the Palladium, and he 
and Ulysses carried it off to the Greek camp. 

The sacred Palladium being gone, Troy no longer 
had the protection of Minerva, who now inspired 
Ulysses with the idea of the wooden horse, through 


29 


which the city at last fell into the hands of the 
Greeks. This horse was of immense size, large 
enough for a hundred men to hide within its body. 
When it was completed, Ulysses and Menelaus, and 
several other Greek heroes, went into it by a trap- 
door on its side, and the door was fastened on the 
outside. Then all the other Greeks went aboard 
their ships and sailed away, leaving the wooden 
horse on the plain before the city. 

Great was the joy of the Trojans when from 
their battlements and towers they beheld the enemy 
depart as they thought forever. Immediately the 
gates were thrown open, and the citizens, with King 
Priam at their head, crowded out into the plain in 
great numbers. 

Their attention was soon attracted by the wooden 
horse, and they wondered much what it meant. 
Many opinions were given as to what should be 
done with it. Some thought it could be intended 
for no good to Troy, and that it should be burned. 
Others thought it should be dragged into the city. 
Hearing the latter proposal, La-oc'o-on, a son of 
Priam, and a priest of Apollo, cried out in words of 
warning : 

“What folly is this, O men of Troyt Are you 
so simple as to believe that the enemy is really 
gone, and to suppose that there is no treacherous 


30 


design in this horse ? Either Greeks are concealed 
in it, or it is meant for some evil to our city. What- 
ever it may be, I fear the Greeks even when they 
bring gifts.” 

Thus speaking Laocoon hurled his spear against 
the side of the horse, and it sent forth a sound as 
of a deep groan from men within. 

“ Against the steed he threw 
His forceful spear, which hissing as it flew, 

Pierced through the yielding planks of jointed wood, 

And trembling in the hollow belly stood. 

The sides transpierced return a rattling sound 

And groans of Greeks inclosed come issuing through the wound.” 

• Vergil, AZneid, Book II. 

But just then a stranger who appeared to be a 
Greek was brought before the king. Being asked 
who he was, he said that his name was Si'non, 
that he had been condemned to be offered up by 
the Greeks as a sacrifice to the gods, and that to 
escape death he had fled, and concealed himself 
during the night in the reeds on the river banks. 
When asked about the horse and for what purpose 
it was erected, he answered that it was a peace 
offering to the goddess Minerva, in atonement for 
the crime of Ulysses and Diomede in carrying off 
her statue from Troy. He said moreover that a 
soothsayer had advised, the Greeks to make the 


3i 


horse of enormous size so that the Trojans could 
not get it within their walls, for if they took it into 
the city, it would be a protection to them forever, 
but if they did any violence to it, ruin would come 
upon the kingdom of Priam and his people. 

No sooner had Sinon ceased speaking than the 
eyes of the multitude were attracted by a fearful 
spectacle. Two huge serpents were seen gliding 
up from the sea, and seizing and crushing to death 
in their dreadful coils the priest Laocoon and his 
two sons while engaged at an altar on the beach, 
offering sacrifice to the gods. 

“ First round his two young sons they wreathe, 

And grind their limbs with savage teeth ; 

Then, as with arms he comes to aid. 

The wretched father they invade 
And twine in giant folds.” 

Vergil, Aineid, Book II. 

This terrible fate of Laocoon was understood by 
The Trojans as a punishment from heaven for his 
impious violence upon the wooden horse, which 
they now believed to be a sacred thing. With one 
voice they resolved to drag the huge figure into 
the city. This they did after attaching rollers to 
its feet and strong ropes to its limbs, and breaking 
down a portion of the wall to admit it, for it was 
too large to get it in by the gate. 



» til litmi 4 > > i i i > s I ii I >ai'i * >Vi it? 




( 3 2 ) 


Laocoon 





33 


Then they placed the wooden horse in the cita- 
del amid universal acclamations, and chiefs and 
people spent the remainder of the day feasting 
and rejoicing. They retired to rest in the happy 
belief that at last the war was over, and their homes 
and country free from the danger of destruction 
which had so long threatened them. 

But very soon King Priam and his people were 
roused from slumber by the clash of arms and the 
shouts of the triumphant Greeks. For in the dead 
of night the treacherous Sinon opened the trap- 
door in the wooden horse, and Ulysses and his 
companions came forth into the streets of Troy. 
Sinon also lighted a fire on the beach, as a signal 
to Agamemnon and his great army, who had gone 
only as far as Ten'e-dos, an island three miles from 
the shore. Quickly the fleet returned and quickly 
the Greeks by thousands poured into the city. 

King Priam and most of the male members of 
his family were slain without mercy. Paris had 
been killed some time before the erection of the 
wooden horse. Aineas escaped, and with a number 
of followers had many adventures by sea and land in 
a voyage to Italy where, it is said, his descendants 
became the founders of Rome. 

After the slaughter of the Trojan heroes, the 
Greek chiefs carried off the treasures of Troy to 


STO. OF ULYSSES — 3 


34 


their ships, each getting his share of the rich spoil. 
Then they set fire to the city, which in a few hours 
was reduced to a mass of ruins. 

Thus ended the celebrated Trojan War. The 
surviving Greek heroes set out for home with 
hopes which for many of them were never realized. 
Some perished at sea. Agamemnon safely arrived 
at his city of Mycenae, but was there treacherously 
slain by Ai-gis'thus whom his wife had married in 
his absence. The venerable Nestor, the oldest of 
all the Greek warriors, returned without misfortune 
or accident, and ended his days in peace in his 
kingdom of Py'los. Menelaus pardoned his wife 
Helen and took her with him to Sparta which, 
how'ever, they did not reach for some years. 

But none of all the chiefs of Hellas who fought 
at Troy encountered such perils or endured such 
sufferings in returning home as the famous Ulysses, 
whose adventures will be related in the succeeding 
chapters. 



III. AMONG THE CICONIANS. 


The adventures of Ulysses after the Trojan War 
are related in the Odyssey of Homer. As is usual 
in epic poems, that is, poems which tell about great 
actions of heroes, the Odyssey begins by invoking 
the aid of the Muse, or goddess of poetry. 


Tell me, O Muse, of that sagacious man 
Who, having overthrown the sacred town 
Of Ilium, wandered far and visited 
The capitals of many nations, learned 
The customs of their dwellers, and endured 
Great suffering on the deep ; his life was oft 
In peril, as he labored to bring back 
His comrades to their homes. 

Bryant, Odyssey , Book I. 

Very soon after leaving Troy, Ulysses began to 
encounter misfortunes. He sailed away with the 
twelve ships in which he had set forth from Ithaca 
ten years before, but he had not so many of his 
brave men, for at least one half of them had 
perished in the war. 

At the very outset of their voyage they met with 
unfavorable winds. Their proper course, as you 


35 


36 


will see by looking at the map, would have been 
south — through the ^Egean Sea, round the south- 
ern point of Greece, and along the west coast to 
Ithaca. But instead of being able to take this route 
the fleet of Ulysses was driven northwest to the 
coast of Thrace, to the land of the Ci-co'ni-ans, 
whose chief town was Is'ma-rus. 

The Ciconians had been friends of Troy, and 
therefore Ulysses landed with his men and attacked 
and captured their city. He divided among his fol- 
lowers the rich spoils he found there, and then he 
ordered them to fly to their ships. But the foolish 
Ith'a-cans lingered on the shore feasting on the 
beef and wine and the other good things they 
had taken from Ismarus. 

Meanwhile, the Ciconians sent for help to their ' 
neighbors in the interior, and great numbers from 
all quarters speedily answered the call. 


“ In swarms they came, 

Thick as new leaves or morning flowers in spring.” 

Bryant, Odyssey, Book IX. 

Ulysses and his unfortunate A-cha'ians, as the 
Greeks were sometimes called, had now to fight 
for their lives, and after a fierce battle which lasted 
a whole day they were forced to take refuge in 
their ships. 


37 


“ While yet ’twas morning, and the holy light 
Of day waxed brighter, we withstood the assault 
And kept our ground, although more numerous they. 

But when the sun was sloping toward the west 
The enemy prevailed ; the Achaian band 
Was routed, and was made to flee. That day 
There perished from each galley of our fleet 
Six valiant men ; the rest escaped with life.” 

Bryant, Odyssey , Book IX. 

Six men from each ship, is the poet’s way of tell- 
ing the number of the Greeks who were killed in 
this battle, but doubtless the meaning is an average 
of six,' which would make seventy-two altogether. 
Lamenting their dear companions thus lost, the 
Ithacans hastened their departure from the land of 
the Ciconians. 


IV. THE LOTUS-EATERS. 


The fleet of Ulysses was hardly out of sight of 
Ci-co'ni-a when a terrific hurricane, sent by Jupi- 
ter, shattered the sails so that the sailors had to 
haul them down and run their galleys for safety 
to the nearest coast on the Greek mainland. Here 
they were obliged to remain two days under stress 
of weather. The storm having then abated they 
again set sail, and steering south with a favorable 
wind they came to Cape Ma-le'a, the southernmost 
extremity of the Pel-o-pon-ne'sus. They hoped to 
round this point and soon reach their beloved 
Ithaca; but once more they were overtaken by a 
furious wind, which drove them past the island of 
Cy-the'ra and over the sea, they knew not where, 
for nine days and nine nights. 

On the tenth morning they came to the land of 
the Lo-toph'a-gi, or Lo'tus-eaters, on the north 
coast of Af'ri-ca. These people lived on the flower 
of the lotus plant as their food ; and wonderful food 
it was, for any stranger who tasted of it forgot his 
country and his home, and desired no greater hap- 
piness than to remain forever among the Lotophagi, 
eating the delicious flower. 


38 


39 


“ Whoever tasted once of that sweet food 
Wished not to see his native country more 
Nor give his friends the knowledge of his fate.” 

Bryant, Odyssey , Book IX. 

The Ithacans went ashore for water and they had 
their evening meal on the beach. Then Ulysses 
sent three of his men into the country to ascertain 
whether there were any inhabitants, and if so what 
sort of people they were. But as the men did not 
return, Ulysses, with some of his companions, went 
in search of them. He found them seated among 
a company of the Lotophagi, who had received 
them with kindness and given them freely of their 
tempting food. The Greeks were enjoying it so 
much that they had no wish to rejoin their friends 
or to sail any more on the sea. 

Most weary seemed the sea, weary the oar, 

Weary the wandering fields of barren foam, 

Then some one said, “ We will return no more ; ” 

And all at once they sang, “ Our island home 
Is far beyond the wave ; we will no longer roam.” 

Tennyson, The Lotus-Eaters. 


Ulysses had to carry off his men by force and bind 
them fast in one of the ships, and they wept bitterly 
because they were not permitted to dwell for the 
remainder of their lives in the happy land of the 
Lotus-eaters. 


V. THE LAND OF THE CYCLOPS. 


After going on board their ships, the Ithacans 
hastened away from the shores of the Lotophagi, 
and sailed westward until they came to the land of 
the Cy'clops. 

Where this land was is not now exactly known, 
but the Cyclops were a strange people who did 
not live as other men. They had no laws. They 
did not plow or dig the ground or sow seed or 
plant anything in the fields. But in their land 
there was plenty of corn and vines. These grew 
without being sown or planted, and the vines pro- 
duced rich clusters of grapes which gave good wine. 

“ The country of the Cyclops, an untamed 
And lawless race, who, trusting to the gods, 

Plant not, nor plow the fields, but all things spring 
From them untended, — barley, wheat, and vines 
Yielding large clusters filled with wine.” 

Bryant, Odyssey, Book IX. 

The Cyclops held no councils together. They 
dwelt in caves at the mountain tops,, each by him- 
self with his wife and children, if he had any, and 


4 o 


4i 


ruling his family as he pleased. They cared little 
for one another. 

Outside the port of entrance to the land of the 
Cyclops there was a woody island in which there 
were great numbers of wild goats. It was a very 
beautiful island, with soft, green meadows stretch- 
ing along the shore, but there were no men there 
to plow or sow ; nor were there any sheep or cat- 
tle to graze in the beautiful meadows. The island 
was inhabited only by goats, and no hunters came 
to disturb them, for the Cyclops had no ships and 
held no communication with other countries. 

“ The Cyclops have no barks with crimson prows, 

Nor shipwrights skilled to frame a galley’s deck 
With benches for the rowers, and equipped 
For any service, voyaging by turns 
To all the cities, as is often done 
By men who cross the deep from place to place, 

And make a prosperous region of an isle.” 

Bryant, Odyssey, Book IX 

There was a good harbor in the island where 
ships, even without anchors, might be safe from 
storms. At the head of the harbor was a cave 
in a rock from which sprung a fountain of clear 
water, and poplars grew around it. 

The fleet of Ulysses approached this island as 
if guided by the gods, for it was night and there 


42 


was a dense mist, and the Ithacans did not see 
the land until their galleys touched the shore. 
Then they disembarked and slept on the beach 
till morning. 

At dawn of day they arose, and soon they be- 
held flocks of goats which the woodland nymphs, 
daughters of Jove, had roused from their resting 
places that the strangers might have their morn- 
ing meal. The crew divided themselves into hunt- 
ing parties, and they were so successful with their 
bows and arrows and long javelins that they killed 
goats enough to allot nine to each galley and ten to 
that of their chief. 

Then they feasted on roast meat and good red 
wine. As they sat upon the grass looking toward 
the mainland they saw smoke issuing from moun- 
tain caves. They also heard the bleating of sheep, 
and voices as of men, and they wondered what it 
might be, for they did not know whether the place 
was inhabited by human beings. 



VI. IN THE CYCLOPS’ CAVE. 


Next morning Ulysses resolved to go over to 
the mainland to see if there were any men in that 
country, and to find out of what race they might 
be. So taking with him a number of his compan- 
ions in his own galley, and ordering the others to 
remain in the little island haven until he should 
return, he steered for the opposite coast. 

When they reached the shore, they saw a cave in 
a high hill not far from the sea. It had a lofty en- 
trance, with laurels growing over and about it, and 
in front there was a large court inclosed by a wall 
built of rough stones, and having around it tall pine 
and oak trees. 

In this cave dwelt a giant of enormous size. His 
name was Pol-y-phe'mus. He lived by himself and 
tended his herds of goats and sheep apart from 
others of the Cyclops race. 

“A giant shepherd here his flock maintains 
Far from the rest, and solitary reigns, 

In shelter thick of horrid shade reclined ; 

And gloomy mischiefs labor in his mind. 

43 


44 


A form enormous ! far unlike the race 
Of human birth, in stature, or in face.” 

Pope, Odyssey , Book IX. 


Ulysses with twelve of his bravest companions, 
whom he selected to accompany him, went forward 
to explore the cave. They carried with them a 
supply of food and a goatskin of wine. This wine 
was very strong and of rich flavor. It was part of 
what Ulysses had got at Ismarus from the priest 
Ma'ron, whom he had saved from death, with his 
wife and children. In gratitude to the Ithacan 
chief the priest gave him presents of gold and 
silver and twelve casks of rich wine, “a divine 
drink,’ 5 as the poet describes it. So strong it was 
indeed that Maron never gave any of it to his own 
people without mixing it with much water. 

“ Whensoe’er 

They drank this rich red wine, he only filled 
A single cup with wine, and tempered that 
With twenty more of water.” 

Bryant, Odyssey , Book IX. 


The prudent Ulysses thought it well to have 
some of this wine on his expedition to the cave. 
“ No doubt,” said he to himself, “we may meet with 
some men, strong and fierce, having no sense of 


45 


justice or right, and good wine may make them 
friendly to us.” 

When they entered the cave they found ‘no one 
in it. The giant was away in the mountains attend- 
ing to his flocks. But they saw baskets around 
filled with cheeses, and pens with lambs and kids 
placed according to their age, the older in a pen by 
themselves, the younger in another, and the very 
youngest in a third. There were pails of milk, too, 
rich with cream, and bowls into which the giant 
milked his sheep and goats. 

The companions of Ulysses did not like the 
appearance of the place and they wanted to re- 
turn immediately to their galley. It would have 
been better for them if they had done so ; but 
Ulysses wished to see what sort of man he was 
who dwelt in that strange place, and whether he 
would give them friendly hospitality, so he decided 
to remain in the cave for a while. 

Then they made a fire and burned some of the 
cheese as a sacrifice to the gods. They ate some 
cheese, too, after which they sat down and waited 
for the arrival of the master of the cave. 

He came in the evening bearing on his shoulder 
a great bundle of firewood which he threw on the 
ground outside the door, making such a crash that 
Ulysses and his companions ran in terror into a 


4 6 


corner of the cave. Then he drove in the sheep 
and goats that gave milk, leaving the others in the 
court without, and he stopped up the entrance with 
a rock so huge and heavy that a score of four- 
wheeled wagons could not move it. 

The giant now sat down and milked his sheep 
and goats. Half the milk he curdled and put into 
vessels for cheese ; the other half he set aside in 
bowls to drink at his supper. When he had fin- 
ished this work he made a fire, and the cave being 
thus lighted up, the giant caught sight of the stran- 
gers. He immediately spoke to them, asking who 
they were, where they came from, and what was 
their business. His deep voice resounded through 
the cavern like thunder, and his form was frightful 
to behold, such a monster was he in size. Never- 
theless Ulysses took courage to reply. 

“We are of Greece,” he said, “ and we come from 
Troy, driven by storms over many seas. We fought 
under Agamemnon, that great king whose fame has 
spread to every land under heaven, so mighty was 
the city he destroyed and so many warriors did he 
slay. In the name of the gods and of Jupiter, who 
protects strangers and avenges their wrongs, we ask 
of you the hospitality due to strangers.” 

But Polyphemus had little respect for the gods 
and so he answered : 


4 7 


“ How foolish thou art, O stranger, to speak to 
me in the name of the gods. We Cyclops care not 
for the gods, for we are better than they. Nor 
would I, through fear of Jupiter, spare thee or thy 
companions if my will were not so inclined. But 
tell me, for I desire to know, where hast thou left 
thy ship ? Is it near, or in a distant port of the 
island ? ” 

The shrewd Ithacan understood the purpose of 
these questions and returned a deceitful answer. 

“ King Neptune has broken my ships against the 
rocks on the coast of this land of thine,” said he, 
“ and I and my companions here have with difficulty 
escaped destruction.” 

To this Polyphemus made no answer, but rushing 
forward, seized two of the comrades of Ulysses to- 
gether and, striking them with a huge rock, killed 
them instantly. Then the cruel monster proceeded 
to make a meal of the bodies. 

“ He hewed them limb from limb for his repast, 

And, like a lion of the mountain wilds, 

Devoured them as they were, and left no part, — 
Entrails nor flesh nor marrowy bones.” 

Bryant, Odyssey , Book IX. 


The Ithacans, beholding this terrible deed, held 
up their hands to heaven and wept aloud in grief 



( 48 ) 


Cruelty of Polyphemus 



49 


and despair. But the savage Cyclops paid no heed 
to their cries. He finished his horrid meal with 
large draughts of milk, after which he stretched 
himself on the floor and was soon fast asleep. 

The first impulse of Ulysses was to plunge his 
sword through the heart of the sleeping monster, 
but presently he thought of the huge rock at the 
door. It fitted close as a door on hinges, and how 
could they remove it and get out of the cave if the 
giant were dead ? There was nothing for them to 
do but to wait, and so with sad hearts and sleepless 
eyes they waited for the morning. 



VII. POLYPHEMUS PUNISHED. 


Polyphemus was up at early dawn. First he 
made a fire, and after milking his sheep and goats 
as on the previous night, he seized two more of the 
unhappy Greeks and devoured them for his morn- 
ing meal. Then he moved the great stone from 
the entrance and drove his flocks to pasture for the 
day. But before leaving he took care to replace 
the rock at the door so that his prisoners might not 
be able to escape. 

As soon as the Cyclops had departed, Ulysses 
set his mind to thinking how he might punish the 
monster, and save himself and his companions from 
the frightful death that awaited them all if they 
should have to remain much longer the guests of 
Polyphemus. 

Now there lay on the floor of the cave a huge 
club or pole of newly cut olive wood, which the 
giant had intended when dried to use as a walking 
cane. It was as thick and as long as the mast of 
a ship. Ulysses cut off a piece six feet in length, 
and he and his companions sharpened it to a point 
at the top. Then they put the sharpened end into 
5 ° 


5i 


the fire, and when it became dry and hard they took 
it out and covered it with some rubbish that lay 
in the cave. 

The plan of Ulysses was to blind the monster by 
thrusting this sharp stake into his eye while asleep. 
Four of the men were chosen by lot to assist their 
chief in the dangerous enterprise, and then they 
waited for the coming of the giant. 

In the evening he came as before, and he drove 
all his flock into the cave, the rams as well as the 
sheep and goats. He also closed up the entrance 
with the great rock, and after performing his usual 
work of milking, he seized and devoured two more 
of the unfortunate Ithacans. Ulysses now prepared 
to carry out his plan. First he filled a cup with 
wine from his goatskin, and presenting it to the 
monster as he sat on the ground, said : 

“ O Cyclops, take this wine and drink. I bring 
it to thee as an offering that thou mayest have pity, 
and let us depart to our home in safety. How canst 
thou expect other men to come and see thee, when 
thou hast dealt so cruelly with us ? ” 

The giant drank off the wine, and he liked 
it so well that he asked for more. 

“ Give me more of this drink,” he said, “ and tell 
me thy name, and I will bestow on thee a gift that 
will please thee. The Cyclops have good wine, 


52 


but not so good as this, which in truth is like 
the nectar of the gods.” 

The cup was filled a second and a third time, 
and the monster drank greedily. Soon the strong 
wine began to get to his head. Then the wily 
Ulysses spoke, saying: 

“ Thou didst ask of me my name, O Cyclops. I 
will tell it to thee, so that thou mayest give me a 
good gift as thou hast promised. My name is 
No'man. It is the name my father and mother 
gave me, and so all my friends call me.” 

“Noman!” said the giant, “then I shall eat thee 
the last of all thy band. This shall be my gift in 
return for thy wine.” 

As he spoke these words he sank back on the 
floor, overcome with the wine, and soon he fell into 
a deep sleep. Then Ulysses and four of his com- 
panions, who had been chosen by lot, raised the 
pole of olive wood, and put the sharp end of it 
into the burning cinders. And when it was almost 
blazing they took it out and thrust the red-hot 
point of it into the giant’s eye, for he had but 
one, which was of great size and set in the middle 
of his forehead. 

The monster howled frightfully, and he drew the 
stake from his eye and hurled it madly across the 
floor. Then he jumped to his feet, roaring loudly 


53 


and calling to his brother Cyclops, who dwelt 
in neighboring caves. They knew his voice, and 
quickly they came crowding around the door. 
Then one of them inquired : 

“ What hurts thee, Polyphemus, that thou dost 
thus disturb our sleep with thy cries? Has any 
one tried to kill thee ? ” 

“ O my friends,” answered Polyphemus, “ it is 
Noman who tried to kill me by cunning; he could 
not do it by force.” 

“ Huge Polyphemus answered from his den : — 

‘ O friends, ’tis Noman who is killing me; 

By treachery Noman kills me ; none by force.’ ” 

Bryant, Odyssey, Book IX. 

“ If that be so,” said the other Cyclops, “ if no 
man hurts thee, what help canst thou have from us? 
Thy trouble doubtless is sent by the gods. Then 
pray to thy father Neptune for help.” 

So saying, he departed with his brother giants, 
and they returned to their mountain dens, while 
Ulysses rejoiced at the success of his trick. 

“ In my heart 

I laughed to think that by the name I took, 

And by my shrewd device, I had deceived 
The Cyclops.” 

Bryant, Odyssey , Book IX. 

Meanwhile the light of morning began to appear. 
Polyphemus, groaning with pain, removed the stone 


54 


from the door as usual. Then he cunningly sat 
down at the entrance and groped with his hands 
to catch any of the Greeks who should attempt to 
get out with the sheep. 

Once more, however, the crafty Ulysses was able 
to outwit the Cyclops. It was fortunate for him that 
the rams had been taken into the cave the night 
before. They were large and strong animals, and 
had thick woolly fleeces. Ulysses placed a number 
of them three by three abreast, and bound them 
together by osier twigs which the giant had in 
his cave to make his bed with. Then under the 
middle ram of each three Ulysses tied one of his 
companions. For himself he chose the finest and 
largest ram of all, and binding one on each side 
of it, he crept down under it, and clung tightly 
to its fleece with both hands and feet. 

By this time the sheep had bagun to leave the 
cave. Polyphemus with outstretched hands felt 
their backs as they passed ; but the Greeks being 
underneath, escaped his touch, and got safely 
through. The ram to which Ulysses clung was the 
last to come, and it moved slowly. It was the 
giant’s favorite of all his flock, and he knew it by 
the touch and spoke to it. 

“ My favorite ram, why art thou thus the last to 
leave to-day? Hitherto thou hast not been behind 



( 55 ) 


Escape of the Greeks from Polyphemus. 


56 


the others, but the first to hasten to the green 
pastures and the fresh streams. Perhaps thou art 
grieving for thy master whose eye this wicked 
Noman has put out. If thou wert able to speak 
and tell me where he hides, I would dash his brains 
upon the ground and thus make him pay for the 
evil he has done to me.” 

Polyphemus then let the ram pass on. As soon 
as the flock had gone a little way from the cave, 
Ulysses quickly got to his feet and unbound his 
companions. Then they drove off a number of 
the fat sheep to their galley. 

Their comrades, who had been waiting in anxiety, 
welcomed them joyfully, but they grieved when 
they heard of the sad fate of those who had perished 
in the giant’s cave. They would have wept aloud, 
but Ulysses forbade it, warning them that their 
cries might bring the Cyclops down upon them. 
After getting the sheep into the galley, they all 
hastened on board, and the men plied their oars 
with vigor. When they were some distance from 
land, but not too far for a voice to be heard on 
the shore, Ulysses shouted out to the giant, who 
was then stalking on the beach : 

“ O Cyclops, those whom thou didst devour in 
thy den were the friends of one who was able 
to avenge them. By my hands the gods have 


57 


punished thee for thy cruelty to strangers and 
guests.” 

These words enraged the monster so that in his 
fury he wrenched off the top of a mountain crag 
that stood near the water’s edge and hurled it into 
the sea in the direction from which he had heard 
the voice of Ulysses. The huge rock fell close 
to the galley and raised a great wave which swept 
the vessel back almost to the land. 

“ From a mountain peak he wrenched 
Its summit, hurling it to fall beside 
Our galley, where it almost touched the helm. 

The rock dashed high the water where it fell, 

And the returning billow swept us back 
And toward the shore.” 

Bryant, Odyssey , Book IX. 

Ulysses seized a long pole and pushed the galley 
again into deep water, and when they were some 
distance from land he once more shouted to the 
Cyclops. His friends tried to prevent him from 
provoking the savage a second time. 

“ What boots the godless giant to provoke, 

Whose arm may sink us at a single stroke ? 

Already when the dreadful rock he threw, 

Old Ocean shook, and back his surges flew.” 

Pope, Odyssey , Book IX. 

But Ulysses would not be advised or hindered, 
and so he shouted to the giant in a loud voice : 


58 


“ Cyclops, if any man inquire about thy blindness 
and ask the cause, say it was done by Ulysses, the 
son of Laertes, who dwells in Ithaca.” 

When the giant heard this he wailed aloud and 
exclaimed : 

“ Alas ! the oracles of old have come true. There 
dwelt a prophet here among the Cyclops, a good 
and great man, Tel'e-mus Eu-rym'e-des, who told 
me that I should be deprived of my sight by 
Ulysses. I thought, indeed, that the man would be 
one of great stature and mighty strength, whereas 
now a mere weakling has done it by a trick and 
not by force. But come back Ulysses that I may 
give thee suitable presents. And Neptune, at my 
entreaty, may guide thee to thy home in safety, for 
he is my father. Perhaps, too, he will cure me of 
my blindness.” 

But Ulysses was not so foolish as to place him- 
self again in the power of the terrible Polyphemus, 
and so he answered : 

“ Rather would I destroy thy life, O Cyclops, if I 
could do it, and send thee to the region of Hades 
where not even Neptune could cure thee.” 

Then Polyphemus stretching forth his hands to 
heaven, prayed aloud to Neptune: 

“ Hear me, O Neptune, if indeed I am thy son 
and thou dost own thyself to be my father. Grant 



( 59 ) 


Ulysses Defying Polyphemus. 





6o 


that this Ulysses may never see his native land. 
But if he do return to his country and family may 
it be only after losing all his companions, and may 
he find sorrow in his home.” 

When he had finished his prayer, the Cyclops 
took up another huge rock, and whirling it round, 
he cast it with terrific force in the direction of the 
galley. It fell close behind the vessel and raised a 
great wave, almost mountain high. But fortunately 
for the Ithacans this wave drove their galley rapidly 
forward toward the little haven in the outer island 
where the other ships were stationed. They soon 
reached the fleet and rejoined their friends, who 
welcomed them joyfully, for they had almost de- 
spaired of ever seeing them again. 

The sheep carried off from Polyphemus were 
divided equally among all the galleys, and to 
Ulysses was given the ram which had carried him 
safely out of the cave of the Cyclops. He offered 
it as a sacrifice to Jupiter. Then they all feasted 
together on roast flesh and good wine and at night 
they lay down to sleep on the shore. 



VIII. THE KING OF THE WINDS. 


Early in the morning, Ulysses and his compan- 
ions went aboard their galleys and sailed away 
from the land of the Cyclops. In a short time 
they came to the island of Hi-o'li-a. Here dwelt 
iE'o-lus, king of the winds. The island was sur- 
rounded by a wall of brass and there were smooth 
rocks along the shores. 

Hiolus had six sons and six daughters, and 
he and his queen and their sons and daughters 
feasted every day at grand banquets where they 
had the richest food and the most delicious drinks, 
while through the palace halls the sound of music 
was heard, and the air was fragrant with sweet 
odors. 

“ All day they feast, all day the bowls flow round 
And joy and music through the isle resound.” 

Pope, Odyssey, Book X. 

^Eolus entertained the Ithacans hospitably for a 
month. He inquired about Troy and the war, and 
Ulysses told him how the city had been taken, and 
related to him his own adventures. And when the 

61 


62 


Greek chief expressed a wish to proceed on his 
journey homeward, the king of the winds gave him 
a skin bag in which he had bound up all the winds 
that could hinder him on his voyage. But the west 
wind he left free to waft the wanderers speedily to 
their native country, Taolus himself tied the skin 
bag in the galley of Ulysses with a silver cord, and 
fastened it so well at the mouth that not a breath 
of the contrary winds could escape. 

For nine days and nine nights they sailed until 
they came in sight of the long-sought Ithaca. They 
were so near it that they could distinguish lights on 
the shore. Just then Ulysses lay down to rest and 
he soon fell into a heavy sleep, for he was exhausted 
with long watching and labor, as he had worked at 
the rudder himself for several days, so eager was 
he to reach his beloved island. 

While he thus lay sleeping some of his compan- 
ions talked about the gift of /Eolus. They thought 
that the bag contained rich presents which Ulysses 
meant to keep all for himself. 

“ Doubtless,” said they, “ it contains gold and 
silver. Come, let us see how much there is in it.” 

Without another word they untied and opened 
the bag. Instantly the winds rushed furiously 
forth, and whirling round the ships, drove them 
far out into the sea. 


63 


“They untied the sack 

And straight the winds rushed forth and seized the ships, 
And swept the crews, lamenting bitterly, 

Far from their country out upon the deep.” 

Bryant, Odyssey, Book X. 


The cries of the men awoke Ulysses and when 
he found what had happened, he was so over- 
whelmed with grief that he thought for a moment 
of casting himself overboard and putting an end 
to his life in the depths of the sea. But he 
quickly dismissed the evil temptation and resolved 
to endure his misfortunes patiently. So he wrapped 
himself up in his cloak and sat down in his ship 
while the storm raged around him. 

The fleet was driven back to /Eolia, and the 
Ithacans went ashore and refreshed themselves with 
food and drink. Ulysses then proceeded once more 
to the palace of yEolus, taking with him two of 
his companions. 

They found the king feasting with his family. 
He was astonished to behold his late visitors so 
soon again, and he inquired how it was that they 
had not reached their home. Ulysses related what 
had happened, and begged Aiolus to help him 
again. But the king was very angry and in a 
stern voice he replied : 

“ Away ! Betake thyself quickly from this island. 


6 4 


I must not again aid one who is hated by the blessed 
gods, as surely thou art hated.” 

“ Hence with thee ! Leave our island instantly : 

Vilest of living men ! It may not be 
That I receive or aid as he departs 
One who is hated by the blessed gods, — 

And thou art hated by the gods. Away ! ” 

Bryant, Odyssey , Book X. 

Ulysses and his companions at once departed, 
and sorrowfully they rejoined their comrades at 
the shore. Then all embarked in the ships, and 
they sailed away from the island of the King of 
the Winds. 



IX. AMONG THE LdESTRYGONIANS. 


For six days and nights they sailed, and on the 
seventh they came to LaTnos, a city of the Laes-try- 
go'ni-ans. In that country the sheep and the cattle 
grazed in the same pastures, the one by day and the 
other by night, so that if a man could do without 
sleep, he might earn double pay. 

“There might a man who never yields to sleep 
Earn double wages, first in pasturing herds, 

And then in tending sheep ; for there the fields 
Grazed in the daytime are by others grazed 
At night.” 

Bryant, Odyssey , Book X. 

There was a good harbor in this place, with lofty 
cliffs on each side and a narrow mouth. Ulysses 
made his galley fast to a rock outside, but the 
others entered the harbor where the water was 
calm and smooth. Then he sent two of his men 
with a herald to inquire what race of people inhab- 
ited the land. They found a good road leading to 
the city, and on their way they met a young woman 
carrying water. She was the daughter of An-tiph'- 
a-tes, king of the country, and in answer to their 
inquiries she showed them her father’s palace. 

65 


STO. OF ULYSSES — 5 


66 


They entered the building, and there they saw 
the wife of Antiphates, a woman of gigantic size, — 
“ tall as a mountain peak,” — and they shuddered 
with fear as they beheld her. She immediately 
called her husband, the king, and when he came, 
he instantly seized one of the Ithacans and slew 
him on the spot. The two others fled in terror to 
the ships. 

Then Antiphates shouted in a voice as loud as 
thunder which was heard throughout the city, and 
his Laestrygonians — giants like himself — rushed 
forth in great numbers and hurled huge rocks from 
the cliffs upon the fleet of the Greeks. They broke 
all the galleys to pieces and killed the men, spear- 
ing them like fishes, and then carried their bodies 
away to be devoured. 

“ They speared our friends 
Like fishes for their horrid feasts ; and thus 
Bore them away.” 

Bryant, Odyssey, Book X 

But the galley of Ulysses and those who were 
with him in it escaped, for they were outside the 
harbor and were not seen by the giants. They 
could do nothing to help their friends, so they 
vigorously plied their oars and were soon beyond 
the reach of the terrible Laestrygonians. 


X. IN CIRCE’S ISLE. 


After they got out to sea, Ulysses and his sur- 
viving companions sailed onward until they came 
to the island of JE- ae'a. Here dwelt the goddess 
Cir'ce, daughter of the Sun. They soon found a 
good haven where they went ashore and as they 
were much fatigued they rested on the beach for 
two days. 

On the third day Ulysses took his spear and 
sword and went up a hill to find if there were any 
signs that the island was inhabited by men. When 
he got to the top and looked around he saw smoke 
coming from a house in the middle of a forest. 
This was the palace of Circe. 

Ulysses was about to go straight to the palace, 
but after thinking awhile it seemed to him better 
to send some of his men to examine the place and 
make inquiries. As he was returning to the shore 
a large stag, on its way to drink at a stream, ran 
into his very path. Ulysses hurled his spear at the 
animal and pierced it through the body. Then he 
bound its feet together with osier twigs and carried 
it on his shoulders to his companions, who were 
67 


68 


astonished at its size. That evening they feasted 
on the flesh of the stag, and they reposed for the 
night on the beach. 

In the morning Ulysses told his people that the 
place where they were was an island, for from the 
top of the hill he had seen the sea all round it. 
He also told them of the palace and the smoke. 
They were much troubled at this and they wept 
aloud, thinking of their lost comrades and of the 
terrible Cyclops and Laestrygonians. But Ulysses 
encouraged them with comforting words. 

Then he divided his whole company into two 
parties with a chief for each — himself for one 
and Eu-ryl'o-chus for the other, and they cast lots 
to decide which should go to the palace in the 
woods, to inquire who dwelt there. The lot fell 
on Eurylochus, and so he set out with his party of 
twenty-two. 

They were not long in coming to the house of 
Circe. It was a beautiful house built of polished 
stone. About the door were several wolves and 
lions, but they were quite tame and did not hurt 
the strangers. They only wagged their tails and 
fawned upon the men as a dog fawns upon his 
master. 

When Eurylochus and his companions reached 
the door they heard the sweet voice of Circe sing- 


69 

in g as she weaved at her loom in one of the halls 
of her palace : 

“ They heard 

Her sweet voice singing, as within she threw 
The shuttle through the wide immortal web, 

Such as is woven by the goddesses, — 

Delicate, bright of hue, and beautiful.” 

Bryant, Odyssey, Book X. 

As soon as the goddess learned that there were 
strangers at the door she came forth and invited 
them to enter. They all did so except Eurylochus, 
who suspected treachery, and so remained outside. 

Circe led the others into the palace and seated 
them on thrones. Then she gave them cheese and 
honey to eat and good wine to drink. But in the 
wine she had put a drug which made any one who 
tasted it lose all thought of country or home. As 
soon as the Ithacans drank of this wine Circe waved 
her wand over their heads, and instantly they were 
all changed into swine. 

“ She touched them with a wand, and shut them up 
In sties, transformed to swine in head and voice, 

Bristles and shape, though still the human mind 
Remained to them.” 

Bryant, Odyssey, Book X. 

Meanwhile Eurylochus, after waiting a long time 
at the door, returned to the ship and with tears in 
his eyes told of the disappearance of his compan- 



Circe and the Swine 




7 1 


ions. Ulysses resolved to go immediately in search 
of them, so he slung his bow and silver-hilted 
sword upon his shoulder, and set forth in the direc- 
tion of the palace. He had not gone far when he 
met a youth of graceful mien who saluted him in a 
friendly manner. This was Mercury, the messenger 
of the gods, who had come down from Olympus to 
warn him against the wiles of Circe and to instruct 
him how to escape them. 

“ O rash man,” said the heavenly messenger, 
“ art thou going unaided to recover thy friends 
whom Circe has transformed into swine ? Dost 
thou not fear that the same evil may befall thyself ? 
But I will be thy protector. Take this drug and 
keep it about thee and her drink will do thee no 
hurt. When she smites thee with her wand, draw 
thy sword and rush forward as if to slay her. She 
will crave thy good will, but do thou not yield 
until she shall swear a great oath to do thee no 
wrong.” 

Then Mercury gave Ulysses an herb, the root of 
which was black, and the flower white as milk. 
This herb was called Mo'ly by the gods, and it was 
difficult for mortal man to find it or pluck it from 
the earth when found. 

The divine messenger now returned to Olympus 
and Ulysses proceeded on his way to Circes palace. 


72 


The goddess received him as she had received the 
others, and after giving him the same kind of drink, 
she waved her wand crying: “ Away now to thy sty, 
and be as thy friends.” 

But instantly Ulysses rushed at her with his 
sword, and then in amazement and fear she threw 
herself at his knees and exclaimed : 

“ Who art thou and whence dost thou come ? 
No other man before has taken of my wine and 
been able to resist my power. Art thou that 
Ulysses of whom the golden-wanded Mercury often 
told me that he would come here, on his way from 
Troy? If so, lay aside thy sword and let us be 
at peace with one another.” 

But Ulysses, not forgetting any part of the advice 
of Mercury, told her that she must take an oath not 
to do any evil against him. Circe immediately 
took the oath, and then she prepared a rich ban- 
quet, with meats of the choicest kinds, and invited 
Ulysses to eat. But he sat in silence and would 
not touch the food and when Circe noticed this, 
she said : 

“ O Ulysses, why dost thou sit as one dumb? 
And why wilt thou not eat and drink ? Thou canst 
not fear evil from me now, since I have sworn a 
great oath to do thee no hurt? ” 

“ O, Circe,” answered Ulysses, “ how can I enjoy 


73 


meat or drink until I see my dear companions ? If 
thou dost desire me to partake of thy hospitality ? 
first make me happy by giving to me my friends.” 

Circe immediately took her wand in her hand, 
and requesting Ulysses to accompany her, she went 
to the sty and drove out the swine. Then going 
among them she touched each with a magic drug. 
Instantly they resumed the forms of men, and they 
appeared much younger and stronger than they had 
been before they were turned into swine. 

Great was their happiness at being delivered 
from their wretched condition and at seeing their 
beloved chief, whom they recognized at once and 
embraced with tears of joy. Circe herself shared 
in the rejoicings, and when she heard of the misfor- 
tunes and sufferings of the wanderers, she invited 
them all to come to her palace to remain as her 
guests until they should recruit their strength by 
rest from care and toil. 



. EJ>W*RDHjrOw/>>fU» 


XI. IN THE REGIONS OF THE DEAD. 


Ulysses and his party stayed a full year in Circe’s 
isle enjoying the hospitality of the goddess. Then 
they began to long for home, and begged Circe 
to permit them to depart. The goddess answered 
that she would not have them remain in her house 
against their will, but there was, she said, another 
journey they must make before they could reach 
their native land. They must visit the regions of 
the dead, the kingdom of Pluto, and his queen, 
Pros'er-pine, and there consult the spirit of the 
prophet Ti-re'si-as. To him, but to no other 
mortal, the gods had given after death the power 
to tell of future events. 

Ulysses was almost heartbroken on hearing this. 
He wept aloud saying: 

“We know not the way, and who will guide us? 
No ship has ever sailed to the realm of Pluto.” 

“ Son of Laertes,” answered the goddess, “ be not 
troubled about a guide. Only raise thy mast, and 
spread thy sails, and the north wind shall waft thee 
to the shores of Proserpine, where are tall poplars 
and willows. Anchor thy galley and go into the 


74 


75 


spacious land of Pluto. Thou shalt see there the 
dark stream of the Ach'e-ron and flowing into it, 
the fiery Phleg'e-thon, and the Co-cy'tus, an arm of 
the Styx. 

“ Near where the loud-resounding waters meet, dig 
a trench a cubit in length and width. Around it 
pour milk and honey and sweet wine as libations to 
the dead, and pray to the shades, promising that on 
thy return to Ithaca thou wilt sacrifice to them the 
best heifer of thy flock and a black ram to Tiresias. 
When thou hast offered up thy prayer, sacrifice a 
ram and a black sheep, with their faces toward the 
abodes of the dead, and bid thy friends flay and 
burn the bodies, after which pay worship to the 
mighty Pluto and the dread Proserpine. 

“ There shall then gather around thee multitudes 
of souls. None may speak with thee without tast- 
ing the blood of thy sacrifice, but draw thy sword 
and suffer none to touch the blood until thou shalt 
have seen and spoken with Tiresias. He will come 
and tell thee how thou mayest reach thy home over 
the measureless deep.” 

The companions of Ulysses wept and tore their 
hair when they heard of the dangerous voyage they 
were now to undertake. But their chief encouraged 
them and they immediately began preparations for 
their departure. One of them, a youth named El- 


76 


pe'nor, had lain down to sleep in the cool air on 
the roof of the castle. The noise made by his 
companions awoke him, and he started to his feet 
and rushed forward to descend, but missing his step 
on the ladder, he fell to the ground and was killed. 

When all was ready the party embarked and 
sailed away from Circe’s fair island, sorrowing for 
their lost friend. The goddess sent after them a 
gentle wind which wafted their galley pleasantly 
along. By sundown, they came to the land of the 
Cim-me'ri-ans, on the confines of O-ce'an-us, the 
great water that inclosed the world around. The 
people there dwelt in eternal darkness. They never 
beheld the glorious sun, either in the morning when 
he ascended into the heavens or in the evening 
when he sank to rest. 

“ There in a lonely land, and gloomy cells, 

The dusky nation of Cimmeria dwells ; 

The sun ne’er views the uncomfortable seats, 

When radiant he advances, or retreats : 

Unhappy race ! whom endless night invades, 

Clouds the dull air, and wraps them round in shades.” 

Pope, Odyssey , Book XI. 

Shortly afterward they reached the shore of the 
kingdom of Pluto. Ulysses followed the directions 
of Circe, and soon beheld the shades of the dead 
crowding round him in great numbers. There 


77 


were young wives and unwedded maidens, old men 
worn out with years and toil, and warriors in the 
armor of battle, bearing the marks of many wounds. 
Ulysses drew his sword and would suffer none to 
approach the blood until he had spoken with the 
renowned prophet. 

But first the spirit of Elpenor advanced toward 
him. The youth was not as yet among the shades 
of Pluto’s kingdom. None could be admitted there 
except those who had been buried, and his com- 
rades, desiring to hasten their departure from the 
island of Circe, had left without performing his 
funeral rites. 

“ He was not buried yet 
In earth’s broad bosom. We had left him dead 
In Circe’s halls, unwept and unentombed. 1 ’ 

Bryant, Odyssey, Book XI. 

Elpenor, therefore, was at liberty to converse 
with Ulysses without touching the blood, and so 
he approached his old chief who spoke to him 
with tears of pity in his eyes. 

“ O, Elpenor,” said he, “ thou hast come to these 
dark realms with more speed on foot than I in my 
swift galley.” 

The spirit, answering mournfully, told Ulysses 
how he had fallen from the roof of Circe’s palace. 
Then he begged him to give his body funeral rites, 


78 


for he knew that on their return from Hades the 
chief and his companions would again visit the 
Aiaean isle. 

“ I conjure thee 
That there, O king, thou wilt remember me, 

And leave me not when thou departest thence 
Unwept, unburied, lest I bring on thee 
The anger of the gods. But burn me there 
With all the armor that I wore, and pile, 

Close to the hoary deep, a mound for me.” 

Bryant, Odyssey, Book XI. 

Ulysses promised that he would do these things. 
Then in a little while he saw the shade of his 
mother, An-ti-cle'a, whom he had left alive in Ithaca 
when he went to the Trojan War. He wept with 
grief on beholding her, but he forbade her to come 
near the blood until he should first have conversed 
with Tiresias. 

At length the prophet appeared, bearing in his 
hand a golden scepter. After having tasted the 
blood of the sacrifice he spoke to the Ithacan king 
and said : 

“ O illustrious Ulysses, thou seekest an easy 
return to thy native land. But I fear thou mayest 
find it hard, for the anger of Neptune is against 
thee, because thou hast blinded his dear son. 
Nevertheless thou mayest escape evils, if thou and 
thy companions do no hurt to the cattle of the Sun 


79 


in the island of Tri-na'cri-a. But if thou harm these, 
destruction will surely come upon thy ship and thy 
companions. And if thou thyself dost reach thy 
home, it will be after much suffering and there 

shall be troubles in’ thy house. Thou shalt find 

evil men wasting thy wealth and seeking to have 

thy wife and thy kingdom. But these thou shalt 

slay in thy palace, and thou shalt die in peace in 
thy old age.” 

Having spoken thus, the prophet Tiresias passed 
away among the shades. Then the mother of Ulys- 
ses came and drank of the blood, and she immedi- 
ately recognized her son and spoke to him. She 
asked him how it was that though still alive, he had 
come to the regions of the dead. 

“ How didst thou come, my child, a living man, 

Into this place of darkness? Difficult 
It is for those who breathe the breath of life 
To visit these abodes, through which are rolled 
Great rivers, fearful floods, — the first of these 
Oceanus, whose waters none can cross 
On foot, or save on board a trusty bark.” 

Bryant, Odyssey, Book XI. 

Ulysses told her how and why he had come to 
the land of spirits, and then he eagerly inquired 
about his home. 

“ Tell me of my son,” said he, “and of my father. 


So 


Do they think I shall return no more ? And tell 
me of Penelope. Does she still remain with Te- 
lemachus, or has some one of the Grecians taken 
her for wife ? ” 

In answer to these questions Anticlea told Ulys- 
ses that all was well in Ithaca except that they 
were sorrowing because of his long absence, and 
now they were beginning to fear he was dead. 

“ Penelope,” said she, “ remains faithful in thy 
palace, and her days and nights are spent in tears 
mourning for thee. Telemachus manages thy es- 
tates and lives as befits a young prince. But thy 
father mourns for thee, dwelling in the country and 
never comiqg to the town. He sleeps where the 
laborers sleep and wears the laborer’s garb. Sor- 
row has oppressed his old age, even as it did 
mine, for it was grief for thee, O my son, that de- 
prived me of life.” 

When his mother ceased speaking, Ulysses longed 
to clasp her to his breast, and three times he tried 
to embrace her, but her form passed through his 
arms like a shadow. Then in great sorrow he 
cried out: 

“ Why may I not take thee in my arms, beloved 
mother, that we may, even for a moment, relieve 
our grief and soothe our misery ? ” 

“ My son,” said she, “ it is the lot of mortals when 


8i 


they are dead, for then they no longer have bones 
or flesh.” 


“ No more the sinews bind 

The bones and flesh, when once from the white bones 
The life departs. Then like a dream the soul 
Flies off, and flits about from place to place.” 

Bryant, .Odyssey , Book XI. 

Anticlea now disappeared from the sight of her 
son, leaving him in sorrow thinking of his aged 
father and his beloved wife. 



STO. OF ULYSSES — 6 


XII. DREAD SIGHTS IN PLUTO’S REALM. 

As soon as his mother had passed from his view, 
Ulysses saw crowds of shades gathering round him. 
He spoke to some of them when they had drunk 
of the dark blood, conversing with each in turn. 
He saw the shades of many of his brother chiefs 
who had fought with him at Troy, and had either 
perished at sea after sailing for Greece, or had 
been slain by treacherous foes after reaching home. 

He saw the illustrious Agamemnon, who told 
him the story of how he had been murdered in his 
own palace by /Egisthus, whom his false wife Clyt- 
emnestra had married while he was at the great 
siege. He saw the mighty Ajax, and the famous 
Achilles, and Pa-tro'clus, the dear friend and com- 
panion of Achilles, whom Hector slew in combat 
before the walls of Troy. The shade of Achilles 
seemed sadder than the others, and Ulysses tried 
to comfort him by speaking of his renown on 
earth, where he was already honored almost as a 
god, and of his great power even among the dead. 

82 


83 


“ Alive we hailed thee with our guardian gods, 

And dead thou rulest a king in these abodes.” 

Pope, Odyssey, Book XI. 

But Achilles answered him in sorrowful voice, 
saying that he would prefer the lot of the poorest 
laborer among mortal men to being king over all 
the regions of the dead. 

“ Noble Ulysses, speak not thus of death, 

As if thou couldst console me. I would be 
A laborer on earth, and serve for hire 
Some man of mean estate, who makes scant cheer, 
Rather than reign o’er all who have gone down 
To death.” 

Bryant, Odyssey, Book XI. 

Achilles then inquired about his son Ne-op-tol'e- 
mus, asking whether he had fought among the 
heroes in the war, and Ulysses told him of the 
youth’s many deeds of valor. This Neoptolemus 
went to Troy after his father had been killed, and 
he was one of the Greeks who concealed them- 
selves in the famous wooden horse, and took part 
in the destruction of the city. Ulysses described to 
Achilles the bravery of Neoptolemus in this great 
enterprise, and told how, when the war was over, 
he embarked for home without having received a 
wound, and laden with rich spoil taken from the 
enemy. 


8 4 


The shade of Achilles now passed away, and 
after conversing with other heroes, Ulysses saw 
some of those who were suffering severe punish- 
ment for evil deeds they had committed while on 
earth. There sat Mi'nos, one of the stern judges 
of Pluto’s realm, with a golden scepter in his hand, 
passing sentence on the spirits as they came before 
him. 

Near by Ulysses saw Tan'ta-lus standing in a 
lake up to his chin, and though his mouth was 
parched with thirst, he could not drink, for when 
he moved his lips toward the water it sank out of 
sight, and he saw nothing but the black earth 
beneath. There were also branches of fruit trees 
laden with all kinds of delicious fruits, — pears and 
pomegranates and apples and figs, — but whenever 
he stretched forth his hand to pluck them, a sudden 
blast of wind whirled them far into the dark clouds. 

Tantalus was thus punished for killing his own 
son. He was guilty of the impiety, too, of steal- 
ing ambrosia and nectar from the table of the im- 
mortal gods when he was admitted to one of the 
heavenly banquets on Mount Olympus. 

Ulysses also saw the robber Sis'y-phus pushing 
a huge stone with both hands up a steep hill; 
but when near the top some secret force sent it 
flying to the bottom. Then the unhappy man, 


85 


covered with sweat, and in a cloud raised by the 
whirling rock, had to roll it up again only to see 
it once more driven down to the valley below. 

“ With many a weary step, and many a groan, 

Up the high hill he heaves a huge round stone : 

The huge round stone, resulting with a bound, 

Thunders impetuous down, and smokes along the ground. 
Again the restless orb his toil renews, 

Dust mounts in clouds, and sweat descends in dews.” 

Pope, Odyssey , Book XI. 

Then Ulysses saw the specter of the mighty 
Her'cu-les, but the hero himself dwelt with the 
immortal gods on high Olympus. The specter 
wore a belt on which were forms wondrous and 
fearful to behold — bears and lions and wild boars 
— and pictures of battles in which men were fiercely 
slain. When the specter disappeared, myriads of 
the dead flocked around Ulysses with a mighty and 
terrific noise, and he grew pale with fear lest he 
should behold the Gor'gon. This was a female 
monster who, instead of hair, had writhing and hiss- 
ing serpents coiled round her head. So frightful 
was her aspect that any one who looked at her was 
instantly turned into stone. 

“No more my heart the dismal din sustains, 

And my cold blood hangs shivering in my veins ; 


86 


Lest Gorgon, rising from the infernal lakes, 

With horrors armed, and curls of hissing snakes, 

Should fix me stiffened at the monstrous sight, 

A stony image, in eternal night ! ” 

Pope, Odyssey , Book XL 

To avoid so terrible a fate, Ulysses hastened to 
his ship and embarked with his companions, after 
which they departed from the shore of the Land 
of Shades. 

“ Straight from the direful coast to purer air 
I speed my flight, and to my mates repair. 

My mates ascend the ship ; they strike their oars ; 

The mountains lessen, and retreat the shores ; 

Swift o’er the waves we fly ; the freshening gales 
Sing through the shrouds, and stretch the swelling sails.” 

Pope, Odyssey , Book XI. 




XIII. CIRCE’S PROPHECY AND WARNING. 


As the wind was favorable it did not take the 
Ithacans long to make the voyage through Oceanus 
and back to the island of Circe. They landed in 
the same haven as before, and the first thing they 
did was to honor the remains of their dead com- 
rade, Elpenor, with the customary funeral rites. 
They burned the body on a funeral pyre built of 
the trunks of trees, and placed the ashes in a tomb 
erected on the shore. 

Then Circe entertained them hospitably, and 
they feasted on rich viands and good wine. And 
at night when his companions had retired to rest, 
the goddess requested Ulysses to tell her all about 
his journey to the kingdom of Pluto, what he had 
seen and heard in the abodes of the dead. He told 
her everything, and when he had finished his story, 
Circe talked to him of dangers that he had yet to 
meet before reaching his native land, and instructed 
him how to avoid them. 

“ First,” said she, “ thou wilt come to the Land 
of the Si'rens, whose sweet singing is death to 
those who listen. Whoever hears their enchanting 
87 


88 


voice nevermore returns to his home or sees his 
wife or children. The Sirens sit in a meadow and 
charm people by their song, while around them are 
the bones of dead men. To escape them thou must 
stop the ears of thy companions with wax, so that 
they may not hear. But if thou thyself wouldst 
hear the ravishing music, thy men must bind thee 
hands and feet to the mast of thy ship, and thou 
must command them to bind thee yet more fast, 
in case thou shouldst entreat them to set thee free. 

“ Other dangers lie in thy way after passing the 
Sirens. There is a narrow strait having on one 
side a cliff with a sharp point reaching to the 
clouds. So steep and so slippery is it that no 
mortal man could ascend it, even though he had 
twenty hands and twenty feet. On the side toward 
the strait is a cavern as high above the water as 
an arrow could be shot from a ship. 

“There dwells the monster Scyl'la, making the 
air resound with her fearful cries. Of hideous 
form is she, with twelve unshapely feet, six long 
necks and as many heads, and in each three rows 
of teeth. Half her body rests in the dark cave, 
but her heads she ever holds forth to seize her 
prey — dolphins, or sea dogs, or great whales which 
Am-phi-tri'te, the wife of Neptune, breeds. Never 
have any sailors passed by the dread monster un- 


8 9 


harmed, for with each of her mouths she snatches 
a living man and bears him away. 

“ On the other side of the strait is a lower rock 
out of which a fig tree grows. Underneath is the 
abode of Cha-ryb'dis who three times each day 
sucks in the dark water and three times sends it 
forth with deafening noise. Beware of being near 
when she sucks it in, for then not even Neptune 
could save thee from destruction. Sooner take thy 
course by the dread Scylla, since it is better for 
thee to lose six of thy companions than that all 
should perish.” 

“ But can I not attack this monster Scylla with 
my sword,” said Ulysses, “ and so escape Charybdis 
and defend my companions ? ” 

“ O rash man,” replied the goddess, “ vain would 
it be to take arms against her, since she is immortal 
and cannot die. It is best to flee, for if thou 
shouldst wait to fight, more of thy men would 
surely perish. In flight is thy only safety. 

“ When thou shalt have passed the monster’s 
cave, thou wilt come to the island of Trinacria 
where the sheep and oxen of the Sun feed, tended 
by two fair-haired nymphs, the goddesses Lam- 
pe-ti'a and Pha-e-thu'sa. There are seven herds of 
fat oxen with fifty in each, and as many beautiful 
sheep. If thou leave these unharmed, thou and 


90 


thy companions may reach Ithaca in safety. But 
if through thee or thy people the flock or herds 
of the Sun suffer hurt, then destruction will come 
upon thy ship and thy companions, and thou thy- 
self wilt return to thy home in sorrow only after 
long years of wandering.” 

Thus Circe instructed and counseled Ulysses. 
Next morning he and his companions embarked, 
and the goddess sent them a favorable wind to 
waft them onwards. 



XIV. THE SIRENS. 


They soon came within view of the island of 
the Sirens, three fair maidens or nymphs of the 
sea, who dwelt there to decoy unwary voyagers. 
Ulysses had already told his companions of the 
warning of Circe. He now took a large cake of 
wax, and after softening and kneading it in the heat 
of the sun, he pressed portions of it into the ears 
of all his men, so that they could not hear the 
least sound. Then his comrades bound him to 
the mast of the ship, tying his hands and feet 
firmly with strong cords. 

Thus the Ithacans were secure against the be- 
witching songs of the nymphs, and they plied their 
oars vigorously. As they approached the island, 
melodious sounds reached the ears of Ulysses. 
The Sirens knew of his coming, and when they 
saw his galley sailing by their meadows near the 
shore they began to sing an alluring song: 

“ Oh, stay, O pride of Greece ! Ulysses, stay. 

Oh, cease thy course, and listen to our lay ! 


91 


92 


Blest is the man ordain’d our voice to hear, 

The song instructs the soul, and charms the ear. 
Approach ! thy soul shall into raptures rise ; 

Approach ! and learn new wisdom from the wise. 

We know whate’er the kings of mighty name 
Achieved at Ilion in the field of fame ; 

Whate’er beneath the sun’s bright journey lies, 

Oh, stay, and learn new wisdom from the wise !” 

Pope, Odyssey, Book XII. 

The sweet music and the artful words filled the 
heart of Ulysses with a longing desire to stay and 
hear more, so he signed and nodded to his com- 
panions to loose the cords that bound him. But 
instead of yielding to his entreaties, they plied their 
oars more vigorously, and Eurylochus and Per-i- 
me'des took stronger cords and tied him still more 
firmly to the mast. When they had sailed past the 
island and were no longer within hearing distance 
of the singers, the men took the wax from their ears 
and then set free their chief. 

“ Then, scudding swiftly from the dangerous ground, 

The deafened ear unlocked, the chains unbound.” 

Pope, Odyssey, Book XII. 

The Sirens were so enraged and disappointed 
that they threw themselves into the sea and per- 
ished. An oracle had told them that they should 
be destroyed as soon as any one, after hearing their 


93 


song, should resist the allurement and depart in 
safety. Ulysses was the first who escaped except 
the famous musician Or'pheus and his companions. 
Others who had come near the island had gone 
ashore and sat listening, entranced, until they died 
from want of food. Orpheus saved himself and his 
party by drowning the voice of the Sirens with the 
music of his lyre, which he had received from his 
father Apollo, the god of music and song. 




XV. SCYLLA AND CHARYBDIS. 


Scarcely had they passed the isle of the Sirens 
when they heard a deafening roar of waters and 
saw before them waves mountain high and a dark 
mist thrown up by the raging surf. The men were 
stricken with sudden fear, and so terrified were the 
rowers that the oars dropped from their hands. 
Ulysses quickly went among them speaking words 
of encouragement. 

“We have met greater dangers than this, my 
friends,” said he, “and have overcome them. We 
were prisoners in the Cyclops’ cave and through 
my good counsel we escaped. Be now advised by 
me. Go to your oars and ply with all your strength. 
And thou, helmsman, take care to keep outside the 
mist and boiling surf, lest being sucked into the 
hole we all should perish.” 

The crafty chief said nothing to them about 
Scylla, for he thought that if they knew of the 
monster being there, they would cease to row and 
retreat into the hold of the ship through fear, as 
soon as they came near the cliff. But Ulysses him- 
self prepared to fight, forgetful, for the moment, of 


94 


95 


Circe’s warning. He put on his shining armor, and 
took his long spears and stood upon the prow to 
await the appearance of the enemy. 

The galley had now sailed into the strait between 
the two rocks, with Scylla on one side and on the 
other Charybdis swallowing the huge waves into 
her horrid gulf and casting them forth again with 
a terrific roaring noise. 

“ Dire Scylla there a scene of horror forms. 

And here Charybdis fills the deep with storms. 

When the tide rushes from her rumbling caves, 

The rough rock roars, tumultuous boil the waves ; 

They toss, they foam, a wild confusion raise, 

Like waters bubbling o’er the fiery blaze.” 

Pope, Odyssey , Book XII. 

The companions of Ulysses grew pale with fear. 
From the deck of their galley they could see into 
the vast whirlpool to the blue sand at the bottom. 
Hastily they steered toward the tall cliff to avoid 
being drawn into the yawning abyss, when suddenly 
the dread Scylla, thrusting forth her hideous heads, 
seized six of them in her frightful jaws and bore 
them off to her den. Ulysses beheld them as they 
were being raised on high. He heard their ago- 
nized cries calling upon him by name, and he saw 
them stretch their hands toward him when the 
monster was devouring them at the mouth of her 


96 


cavern. Nothing he had seen during all his ad- 
ventures was so lamentable as this. 

“ Scylla devoured them at her cavern’s mouth, 

Stretching their hands to me with piercing cries 
Of anguish. ’Twas in truth the saddest sight, 

Whatever I have suffered and where’er 

Have roamed the waters, that mine eyes have seen.” 

Bryant, Odyssey , Book XII. 

Though Ulysses had put on his armor and had 
weapons in his hand, he was prudent enough not 
to attempt battle with an enemy that could not 
be vanquished by mortal strength or valor. He 
thought it better to follow the wise counsel of 
Circe, so he urged his companions to increased 
speed, and they soon passed out of the narrow 
strait of Scylla and Charybdis. 



XVI. THE OXEN OF THE SUN. 

After leaving Scylla and Charybdis, Ulysses and 
his remaining companions sailed on until they came 
to a beautiful island. It was the island of Trinacria, 
and as they approached it, they heard the bleating 
of sheep and the lowing of oxen. 

These were the cattle of the Sun, and Ulysses, 
remembering the warning of the prophet Tiresias 
and of Circe, said to his men that it would be 
better to pass on and not land on the island, lest 
some evil should happen to them. But they would 
not give heed to his wise counsel. They were 
fatigued with toil and want of sleep, and longed 
to rest and refresh themselves on dry land. And 
so they disregarded the wish of their chief, and 
went ashore. But Ulysses made them promise that 
they would not harm the oxen or the sheep they 
should find on the island. 


“ Now all of you 
Bind yourselves to me firmly, by an oath, 
That if ye haply here shall meet a herd 
Of beeves or flock of sheep, ye will not dare 


STO. OF ULYSSES — 7 


97 


98 


To slay a single ox or sheep, but feed 
Contented on the stores that Circe gave.” 

Bryant, Odyssey, Book XII. 

As soon as they landed they prepared their even- 
ing meal, for it was near sunset, and when they had 
eaten and drunk, they lay down to sleep. In the 
morning there was a great storm which prevented 
them from resuming their voyage, so they drew 
their galley into a cave or grotto at the head of the 
small haven or creek where they had landed. In 
this grotto they saw. the seats of the sea nymphs 
and the places where they danced. 

For a whole month the winds continued so un- 
favorable that they could not leave the island. As 
long as their provisions lasted they did not touch 
the oxen. Even when their supply of bread was 
consumed they eat fish and birds, or anything 
that came to their hands. But soon they grew 
weak from want of more and better food. One day 
Ulysses went away from his companions to another 
part of the island to pray to the gods to help him 
and grant them some means of returning to their 
native land. While thus engaged he fell into a 
soft sleep. Meantime, Eurylochus talked with his 
companions assembled at the ship. 

“ My comrades,” said he, “ death in any form is 
dreadful to men, but death by hunger is the most 


99 


dreadful of all. Let us then kill and eat some of 
these oxen that we see around us and when we 
come to Ithaca we will make amends. We will 
build a grand temple to the Sun and offer up gifts 
and sacrifices to the gods to atone for the fault we 
commit here to save our lives. But if it be the will 
of the gods to destroy our ship in the sea, it is 
better to perish in the deep than to die a lingering 
death by famine.” 

All the men approved of the proposal of Eurylo- 
chus. Then they selected the best of one of the 
herds of oxen that were grazing near by, and 
immediately slaughtered them, and prepared a fire 
to roast some of the flesh. While they were thus 
engaged, Ulysses, after awaking from his sleep, re- 
turned to the shore. When he saw what had been 
done he was filled with grief and alarm. 

Meanwhile, Lampetia, one of the guardian god- 
desses who tended the flocks, hastened up to heaven 
to tell the Sun that his beautiful oxen had been 
slain by the companions of Ulysses. Great was the 
anger of the god when he heard of the impious deed, 
and forthwith he demanded of the other deities of 
Olympus that the offenders should be punished. 

“O father Jupiter,” said he, “and ye other im- 
mortal gods, avenge this wrong upon the compan- 
ions of Ulysses. They have slain the oxen in which 


U if c. 


IOO 


I took delight each day as I ascended into the 
starry heavens and sank from the heavens to earth. 
If they are not punished as they deserve, I shall go 
down into the regions of Pluto, there to shine 
among the dead, and no more shall I give light to 
mortal men on earth,” 

“O Sun,” replied Jupiter, “shine forever in the 
bright heavens and with thy glorious beams make 
the earth fruitful and give joy to men. As for these 
Greeks, they shall be quickly punished. I will 
cleave their galley with my thunderbolts and sink 
them in the depths of the sea.” 

While the doom of his companions was being 
thus pronounced, Ulysses was severely reproving 
them for their mad folly. But the evil that was 
done could not be remedied. The oxen were dead 
and some of the meat was roasting on spits. Just 
at this moment a wonderful thing happened. The 
skins of the dead beasts crawled along the ground 
and the pieces of flesh lowed like living oxen. 

“ And now with prodigies the gods 
Amazed my companions, — the skins moved and crawled, 
The flesh both raw and roasted on the spits 
Lowed with the voice of oxen.” 

Bryant, Odyssey, Book XII. 

But though they were amazed at the prodigy, 
the men feasted on the flesh, and they remained 


IOI 


six days longer killing the best of the oxen and eat- 
ing the meat. 

On the seventh day the wind was favorable, and 
they embarked and set sail. But scarcely were they 
out of sight of land when a dark cloud appeared 
above their heads, and immediately afterward a 
furious storm arose. In a few moments, waves 
mountain high were raging around the galley. 
The wind tore up the deck, shattered the sails and 
rigging and broke the mast, which fell backward 
on the pilot, crushing him to death. 

Then Jupiter sent down his thunderbolts which 
struck the ship with a mighty crash, filled it with 
sulphurous vapor, and hurled the men into the 
foaming sea. Ulysses held on until the vessel fell 
asunder. The sides parted from the bottom, and 
the keel drifted before the waves. The mast was 
broken off at the base, but there was a thong of 
bullock’s hide around it. With this thong Ulysses 
bound the mast and keel together, and sat firmly 
upon them, and in this posture he was driven along 
the surface of the waves by a violent west wind. 

Soon the west wind ceased and a south wind 
came on, which Ulysses ' feared would carry him 
back to the terrible Charybdis. 

And so it happened. After being borne on- 
ward during the whole night he found himself in 


102 


the morning at the entrance to the narrow strait, 
with Scylla on one side and Charybdis on the other. 

It was just at the moment when Charybdis was 
sucking in the waters. The raft of Ulysses was 
swept into the gulf, and he himself would have 
been swallowed up in the awful abyss had he not 
jumped forward and grasped a branch of the over- 
hanging fig tree, to which he clung like a bat. 
He could find no place to rest his feet, nor could he 
climb into the tree, for the boughs were so far 
apart that he could not reach from one to another. 
So with all his strength he held on to the stout 
bough until Charybdis again sent forth the waters 
and the mast and keel reappeared below. Then 
he dropped himself down upon his raft and sitting 
on it as before, he rowed away with both his hands 
and with all his might. 



XVII. IN CALYPSO’S ISLAND. 


For nine days Ulysses floated on the sea, but on 
the tenth he came to the island of O-gyg'i-a. Here 
in a beautiful grotto dwelt the fair nymph or god- 
dess Ca-lyp'so, daughter of Atlas, the mighty hero 
who bore the heavens on his shoulders. 

Calypso received the Ithacan chief kindly and 
entertained him hospitably. She promised to make 
him immortal if he would stay with her forever 
and consent to be her husband. Ulysses, however, 
longed for his home and family and would gladly 
have ventured to sea again, but he had no ships or 
men to help him on a voyage. 

To his dear native land 
Depart he cannot : ship arrayed with oars 
And seamen has he none, to bear him o’er 
The breast of the broad ocean. 

i Bryant, Odyssey, Book V. 

For seven long years he was detained in Ca- 
lypso’s isle, and often he sat on the beach looking 
out over the sea and mourning for his dear wife 
and son. 

At length it appeared fitting to the gods that he 

103 


104 


should be permitted to return home. They were 
all favorable to him except Neptune, who hated 
him for what he had done to his son Polyphemus. 
But at this time Neptune was away in /E-thi-o'pi-a 
at a banquet, and in his absence there was an 
assembly of the gods on Olympus. There Minerva 
appealed to Jupiter in behalf of Ulysses. 

“ O King of Kings,” said she, “ my heart is grieved 
for the unhappy Ulysses kept away from those he 
loves. The daughter of Atlas detains him with 
soft words in her forest island, seeking to make him 
forget Ithaca. Let us send our messenger Mercury 
down to Ogygia to make known to the fair-haired 
nymph Calypso our will that Ulysses return to his 
home. I myself will repair to Ithaca to counsel his 
son, and I will tell him to go to Sparta and to 
Pylos to inquire for his father. So he shall become 
known and have great fame among the men of 
Hellas.” 

Jupiter consented to the proposal of Minerva and 
he sent Mercury down to Calypso with a message 
that Ulysses must immediately depart from Ogygia. 



XVIII. MINERVA VISITS TELEMACHUS. 


Meanwhile Minerva prepared to set out on her 
visit to Ithaca. Under her feet she fastened her 
golden sandals. 

The fair, ambrosial golden sandals worn 
To bear her over ocean like the wind, 

And o’er the boundless land. 

Bryant, Odyssey, Book I. 

When she had put on her sandals she took in 
her hand her mighty brass-tipped spear, with 
which, when angry, she could destroy whole armies 
of heroes. Then she sped dow T n to Ithaca like a 
flash of lightning and stood at the door of the 
palace of Ulysses. But she disguised herself by 
taking the form of Men'tor, a chief of a neighbor- 
ing people called Ta'phi-ans, and a friend of Ulysses 
in the Trojan War. 

As she stood at the door the goddess saw a 
number of men eating and drinking in the hall, 
while servants were waiting upon them, bringing 
them meat and pouring out wine for them to drink. 
These were the suitors — young princes of the 
surrounding isles who sought to make Penelope 
105 



Minerva. 



07 


believe that Ulysses was dead and to persuade her 
to take one of them for her husband. 

Telemachus was sitting among them thinking of 
his father and sorrowing for his absence. He was 
the first to notice the stranger at the door, and 
he went forward and courteously welcomed him. 
Then he led him to a seat apart from the others 
and commanded the servants to bring food and 
wine. At the same time the harper PheTni-us 
played music for the suitors, and when the disguised 
Mentor had finished his meal, Telemachus leaned 
forward and spoke to him. 

“ Good stranger/’ said he, “ these revelers eat and 
drink and enjoy music not at their own cost. They 
are consuming the substance of another man who 
is tossed about on the ocean, or perhaps dead. If 
he should return and see them here, they would 
need swift feet to bear them away from his wrath. 
But tell me, I pray, who art thou and whence dost 
thou come ? Hast thou at any time been my 
father’s guest ? For often strangers came to our 
house, when he was its master.” 

“ I am Mentor, king of the Taphians,” replied the 
stranger, “ I am on my way to Cy'prus to exchange 
my steel for brass. My ship is in a haven at the 
back of the town. I am a friend of thy family, as 
Laertes may tell thee if thou wilt ask him. I came 


io 8 


to see thy father for I heard he had returned. 
Some god hinders him on his journey. But he will 
yet come home. This I know, though I am not a 
seer. But tell me, art thou not the son of Ulysses, 
for indeed thou dost greatly resemble him.” 

“ O stranger,” replied Telemachus, “ I am indeed 
the son of Ulysses. Would that a happier lot had 
been his and mine.” 

“ May the gods make thy race glorious,” said 
Mentor. “ But who are these and what feast is 
this ? Is it a banquet given to invited guests ? 
Whoe’er they be their revels are unseemly.” 

“These,” answered Telemachus, “are men of 
note in Ithaca and chiefs who rule in neighboring 
isles. They woo my mother and waste my father’s 
means, for they are here every day eating and 
drinking of our substance. My mother fears to 
offend them by blunt refusal and she cannot bear 
to think of marriage.” 

When Mentor heard these things he advised 
Telemachus to call the chief men of Ithaca together 
next day, and in their presence command the 
suitors to depart to their homes. “ Then,” said he, 
“get ready a ship and go and inquire about thy 
father. First go to Pylos to the venerable Nestor. 
Next go to Sparta. Perhaps Menelaus may have 
tidings of him, for he is the latest who has returned 


109 


from the war. If thou shouldst learn that thy father 
lives, thou mayest have patience for yet a year. 
But if thou shouldst find that he is dead, return 
home and perform the funeral rites. Then thy 
mother may wed and thou canst take steps to 
punish the suitors. Thou art no longer a boy. Be 
brave, that men hereafter may honor thy name. 
And now I must leave thee, for my companions 
may be anxiously awaiting me.” 

Telemachus thanked him for his good counsel 
and pressed him to stay until some rich gift could be 
prepared for him, such as in ancient times it was 
customary for friendly hosts to bestow upon their 
guests. But the stranger begged Telemachus not 
to detain him. He promised to receive his gift 
at another time and to present one in return. 
Then he arose and ascended into the air like a 
bird, suddenly disappearing from view. Telema- 
chus now knew that it was the goddess Minerva 
who had been his visitor, and his heart was filled 
with strength and courage. 



XIX. PENELOPE’S WEB. 


Next day heralds were sent out to call the chiefs 
together, as Mentor had advised. They quickly 
came, and when they were all assembled in the 
forum or open market place, where meetings of the 
people were usually held, Telemachus took his seat 
as president of the council. The first speaker was 
the venerable chief Av-gyp'tius, a hero bent with 
age, whose son, An'ti-phus, was one of the unhappy 
victims of the monster Polyphemus. 

His son, the warlike Antiphus, 

Went with the great Ulysses in his fleet 
To courser-breeding Troy, and afterwards 
The cruel Cyclops, in the vaulted cave, 

Slew him for his last meal. 

Bryant, Odyssey , Book II. 

The father of the unfortunate hero rose in the 
council of the chiefs to inquire what was the object 
of the assemblage. “ Men of Ithaca,” said he, “we 
have had no council since the great Ulysses departed 
from our isle. Why are we now summoned ? Is 
there an enemy coming to attack us, or if not, what 


no 


Ill 


other matter concerning the general welfare are we 
called to discuss ? ” 

Then Telemachus arose to speak, holding in his 
hand his fathers golden scepter. “ I have not called 
you,” said he, “ to hear of an approaching enemy or 
to discuss anything concerning the public good. 
But I would talk to you about my own troubles. 
My father I fear I have lost. He was your king, 
and ruled over you with love and mildness. But 
while he is away evil comes upon his family. Every 
day those suitors, the sons of men of rank in our 
isle, come to try to persuade my mother to marry. 
And they feast upon our substance, killing and 
eating our oxen and sheep and drinking our wine ; 
for there is no one to prevent them or to protect 
us. Is it not a shame, O my friends, that these 
things are done in the house of Ulysses ? Better 
were it that we should die than live suffering these 
wrongs for which in vain we seek redress.” 

After he had thus spoken Telemachus, filled with 
grief and anger, dashed his scepter to the ground 
and burst into a flood of tears. The people were 
moved to pity, and for a few moments there was 
deep silence. Then one of the suitors, An-tin'o-us 
by name, the most insolent of them all, arose and 
said : 

“ O presumptuous youth, dost thou dare to blame 


1 12 


us when it is thy mother who is in fault ? Skilled 
in craft as she is, she has now for three years been 
deceiving us with false hopes. A cunning device 
she planned, to weave a shroud for Laertes, and 
when she began the work of her loom she spoke 
to us, saying: ‘Young men, do not ask me to marry 
until I have finished this web for a funeral vesture 
for the chief Laertes. Great dishonor it would be, 
and the Grecian dames would think it ill of me if I 
should leave him without a shroud at death.’ So 
she spoke, and she began to weave her web ; but 
by night she unraveled what she wove by day.” 

“ So went she on, 

Weaving that ample web, and every night 
Unraveled it by torchlight. Three full years 
She practiced thus, and by the fraud deceived 
The Grecian youths ; but when the hours had brought 
The fourth year round, a woman who knew all 
Revealed the mystery, and we ourselves 
Saw her unraveling the ample web.” 

Bryant, Odyssey , Book II. 

“Thus,” continued Antinous, “has thy mother 
deceived us. Now hear our answer to thee. Send 
thy mother to the home of her father, and let her 
marry any one of the Grecian youths she may 
choose. But if thou wilt not, or if she will not 
choose for husband one of the suitors, we will 
not depart hence nor cease consuming thy goods.” 


1 13 

But Telemachus would not consent to this pro- 
posal. “ Think you,” said he, “ that I could do this 
wrong to the mother that nursed me ? If I should 
send her away from my father’s house against her 
will, the deed would draw upon my head the anger 
of the gods. Never shall I do aught so evil. And 
now I command you to cease consuming what is 
mine and to depart to your own homes. If you 
refuse to obey, I shall call on the immortal gods to 
punish you.” 

As Telemachus ceased speaking, Jupiter sent two 
eagles, which were seen flying together until they 
came right over the heads of the assembled chiefs. 
There they paused, and after looking down for a 
moment on the people below, they tore each other 
with their talons and then darted away. 


The Thunderer, Jove, 

Sent flying from a lofty mountain-top 

Two eagles. First they floated on the wind 

Close to each other and with wings outspread ; 

But as they came to where the murmuring crowd 
Was gathered just beneath their flight, they turned 
And clapped their heavy pinions, looking down 
With deadly omen on the heads below, 

And with their talons tore each other’s cheeks 
And necks, and then they darted to the right 
Away through Ithaca among its roofs. 

Bryant, Odyssey , Book II. 


STO. OF ULYSSES — 8 


H4 

Great was the astonishment of the assembly on 
beholding this prodigy, and all wondered what it 
meant. But the aged hero Ha-li-ther'ses, who was 
also a soothsayer, arose and said : 

“ O men of Ithaca, hear me, and particularly 
you suitors. Great danger hangs over your heads. 
Ulysses is not far from his home. When he comes 
it will fare ill with you, if you do not cease from 
injuring his family. Pay heed to my words. I do 
not speak without knowledge of the future. Long 
ago when the Greeks were embarking for Troy, I 
foretold that our chief would not return for twenty 
years, nor until all his comrades were lost. These 
things are now coming to pass.” 

But the suitors would not listen to the warnings 
of the soothsayer. Then Telemachus begged them 
to give him a ship that he might go to Pylos and 
Sparta to seek tidings of his father. But they only 
laughed at his request, and soon afterwards the 
assembly broke up. 



XX. TELEMACHUS GOES ON A VOYAGE. 


After the council the suitors went to the palace 
and Telemachus walked alone to the seashore. 
There he washed his hands in the foaming surf and 
prayed aloud to Minerva. 

“ Hear me,” said he, “ O goddess, who hast com- 
manded me to cross the sea to inquire about my 
dear father. I cannot go without a ship, and the 
suitors will not help me.” 

Then Minerva immediately appeared and stood 
by his side, again taking the form of Mentor, and 
she encouraged him, saying : 

“ Telemachus, if thy father’s spirit be in thee, thy 
journey will not be in vain. Regard not the suitors. 
Thou shalt have a ship, and I myself will accom- 
pany thee to be thy guide and protector. Hasten 
now and get ready provisions for thy voyage, while 
I go among the people and find good men who 
will gladly serve thee. Ships there are plenty in 
Ithaca, and I will choose the best and have it well 
prepared.” 

Joyfully Telemachus returned to the palace to 
make preparations for his departure. The suitors 


5 


were sitting around well-spread .tables banqueting 
on rich viands, and as they noticed the young 
prince they spoke of him in slighting words. 

“ Doubtless,” said one, “ he expects to bring men 
from Pylos and Sparta to destroy us all.” 

“ Perhaps,” said another, “ he may perish far 
away from home like his father and then we shall 
have his wealth to divide among us, and one of us 
shall be king in Ithaca.” 

But Telemachus paid no heed to the talk of the 
suitors. He hastened to his own apartments, and 
there he found the faithful housekeeper, Eu-ry-cle'a, 
who was his old nurse and to him the most affec- 
tionate of all the domestics of the family. 

She loved 

Her young lord more than all the other maids, 

And she had nursed him in his tender years. 

Bryant, Odyssey, Book I. 

Telemachus told her that he was going away to 
search for news of his father, and he requested her 
to get ready provisions for his journey. “ Fill twelve 
jars with good wine,” said he, “ and put twenty 
measures of meal in strong bags. I will come for 
them in the evening after my mother has retired to 
rest, for she must not know that I am going.” 

The kind-hearted woman burst into tears and 
wept aloud. “ O my child,” cried she, “ what is this 


ii 7 


thou art about to do ? Think of what has happened 
to thy father. And these wicked men will plot 
against thy life when thou art gone, and divide thy 
wealth among themselves. Do thou remain here, 
among thy people, for it is not safe for one so 
young to wander over the wild sea.” 

Telemachus comforted the good woman by tell- 
ing her that his journey was ordered by a god. 
Then he made her promise that she would not let 
his mother know of his departure until eleven or 
twelve days after he had gone, lest she should wear 
herself away with grief. 

Meanwhile Minerva, taking the form and appear- 
ance of Telemachus, went through the city, and 
picking out good men for a crew she ordered them 
to be at the ship at nightfall. The ship she bor- 
rowed from a generous man, No-emon, who will- 
ingly gave it for the son of the noble Ulysses. 

By evening the vessel and crew were ready. 
Minerva now repaired to the palace where the 
suitors were feasting, and she shed over them a 
sense of drowsiness which made them all hasten to 
their chambers and go t,o sleep. Then she assumed 
the form and voice of Mentor, and going to Te- 
lemachus told him that it was time to depart. Both 
immediately went together to the beach where they 
found the men awaiting them. Telemachus took a 


ii 8 


few of them with him to the palace to fetch the wine 
and meal, which were quickly carried down and 
stored in the ship. Then all the men embarked. 

Telemachus went up 
The vessel’s side, but Pallas first embarked, 

And at the stern sat down, while next to her 
Telemachus was seated. Then the crew 
Cast loose the fastenings and went all on board, 

And took their places on the rowers’ seats, 

While blue-eyed Pallas sent a favoring breeze, 

A fresh wind from the west, that murmuring swept 
The dark-blue main. 

Bryant, Odyssey, Book II. 

And so with a favoring wind and a good guide 
and counselor, Telemachus sailed away to seek for 
intelligence of his beloved father. 



XXI. TELEMACHUS VISITS KING NESTOR. 


Telemachus sailed all night, and the next morn- 
ing came to the city of Pylos on the seacoast. 
There the people were assembled in great numbers, 
offering sacrifices of black oxen to Neptune. 

On nine seats they sat, 

Five hundred on each seat ; nine steers were slain 
For each five hundred there. 

Bryant, Odyssey , Book III. 

The Ithacans moored their ship at the shore and 
landed, and Mentor and Telemachus went up to 
where the people sat. Among them were the ven- 
erable King Nestor and his sons, and men were 
roasting meat on spits and preparing other things 
for a feast. As soon as the strangers were noticed, 
many came to welcome them. Pi-sis'tra-tus, the 
king’s son, greeted them kindly and led them to 
seats near his father. Then he placed meat before 
them, and wine in golden cups, and bade them 
offer libation and prayer to Neptune, in whose 
honor the feast was made. 

Mentor took the cup, and pouring wine on the 


19 


120 


ground in honor of Neptune, prayed to the god 
to give glory to Nestor and all his people, and to 
grant to himself and his friends good fortune in 
the business on which they had come, and a safe 
return to their country. Telemachus also made 
libation to the god and prayed in like manner. 
Then they all feasted on the good things set before 
them, and when the banquet was over, Nestor ad- 
dressed the strangers, inquiring who they were and 
what was the object of their voyage. 

Telemachus answered that he had come from 
Ithaca to make inquiries about his father Ulysses; 
and he begged Nestor to tell him if he knew aught 
of him — whether he was dead, or what fate had 
befallen him since they had taken and sacked the 
great city of Ilium. 

The old man replied, telling much of what had 
happened to many of the heroes after they had 
sailed from Troy, and praising Ulysses as the great- 
est of them all. 

“ Far o’er the rest thy mighty father shined, 

In wit, in prudence, and in force of mind. 

Art thou the son of that illustrious sire? 

With joy I grasp thee, and with love admire.” 

Pope, Odyssey, Book III. 

Nestor, however, had no news to tell of Ulysses 
since he had left Troy. He knew that Agamemnon 


121 


had been cruelly slain upon reaching his own 
palace, and that Menelaus had recently returned 
to Sparta with his wife Helen ; but of the fate of 
the brave warrior of Ithaca, he had learned nothing. 
He had indeed heard of the suitors, and of their 
insults to Penelope, and of their other evil doings ; 
and he encouraged Telemachus to believe that 
his father would one day return and take fitting 
vengeance on those insolent men. 

The king and his guests continued their conver- 
sation until the shades of evening came on, and then 
Nestor advised Telemachus and his companions 
to go to Sparta and make inquiries of Menelaus. 

That hero had himself had many adventures on 
his voyage home, and he might possibly have seen 
or heard of Ulysses. They could journey to Sparta 
in their ship, or if they preferred to travel by land, 
he would furnish them with a carriage and horses 
and send his son with them as a guide. 

Grateful for the hospitality and kindness of the 
kin e, Telemachus and Mentor now rose to return 
to their ship, but Nestor invited them to come to 
his palace and remain as his guests for the night. 

“ This is well, good friend,” said Mentor, “ and 
Telemachus may stay with thee. But I must hasten 
away to other tasks. To-night I shall be at the 
ship ; to-morrow I depart for distant lands.” 


122 


So saying, Mentor ascended into the sky like 
an eagle, and vanished from their sight. All were 
astonished, but the king knew who it was, and he 
said to Telemachus: 

“ Thou must surely be a good youth, since the 
gods thus accompany thee. This was no other 
than the daughter of Jove, the glorious Minerva 
who honored also thy excellent father.” 

Early in the morning the king arose. He came 
down to the lofty gate of the palace, and sat on a 
polished stone bench in front of the gate, with Te- 
lemachus at his side. Then Nestor ordered one 
of his sons to bring a heifer, the best of the herd, 
for a sacrifice to Minerva. He ordered another to 
command the goldsmith La-er'ceus to decorate the 
heifer’s horns with gold, that the offering might be 
more pleasing to the goddess. He ordered a third 
to bring the companions of Telemachus from the 
ship, and he directed that the maids of the palace 
should prepare a grand banquet. 

Immediately all were busily occupied, and when 
the golden-horned heifer was slain, portions of it 
were burned and the king poured wine upon them. 
He was surrounded by his family — his wife, Queen 
Eu-ryd'i-ce, and his daughters and sons all taking 
part in the religious ceremonies. 

After the sacrifice they sat down and feasted on 


23 


rich viands, and when the meal was over, Nestor 
ordered his sons to make preparations for the de- 
parture of Telemachus. Immediately swift horses 
were yoked to a chariot, and the housekeeper put 
in some provisions for the journey — good wine 
and rich food such as only kings eat. Then Te- 
lemachus mounted into his seat and Pisistratus, the 
king’s son, climbed in after him and took the reins. 
Quickly the fleet horses were dashing along the 
plain on the road to Sparta and soon they had left 
Pylos far behind. 



XXII. IN THE PALACE OF MENELAUS. 


The travelers made no stop until evening when 
they came to the city of Phe'rae. Here they 
remained for the night and were hospitably enter- 
tained by King Di'o-cles. Next morning they 
resumed their journey and by sundown reached 
Sparta and drove up to the gate of the royal palace 
of King Menelaus. 

On this day it happened that they had a double 
wedding feast in the palace. The king’s daughter, 
Her-mi'o-ne, had been wedded to Neoptolemus, the 
son of the great Achilles, and his son Meg-a-pen'- 
thes had taken for wife the daughter of a neighbor- 
ing prince. And so there was great festivity in 
the halls of Menelaus when Telemachus and Pisis- 
tratus arrived. 

They were soon noticed by the servants, one of 
whom hastened to tell his master that two strangers 
of noble appearance were at the gate, and to ask 
whether they should be received or sent to seek 
entertainment elsewhere. 

“ Why dost thou talk of turning strangers from- 
our door?” replied Menelaus angrily. “This is 


124 


125 


not the hospitality we ourselves have so often 
received from others. Loose the horses quickly, 
and give the strangers fitting welcome.” 

The servants hastened to obey. Telemachus 
and Pisistratus were immediately conducted into 
the palace. After they had refreshed themselves 
by bathing in magnificent baths, and arrayed them- 
selves in beautiful tunics supplied by the attendants, 
they were led into the banqueting hall. Here the 
king was waiting to receive them, and he made them 
sit near himself on golden thrones. Then serv- 
ants brought water in vessels of gold and silver, 
and set before the guests a table covered with the 
choicest meats. The king giving his hand to each 
of them bade them welcome, and invited them to eat. 

When they had* finished their meal, Telemachus, 
bending his head toward his companion, said in a 
low voice so that his words might not be heard 
by Menelaus: 

“ O son of Nestor, how beautiful is everything in 
this house. Behold the shining brass and the gold 
and the silver and the ivory and the amber. In 
truth the palace of Olympian Jove cannot be more 
splendid than this.” 

But Menelaus overheard the words and he said 
to his guests : 

“No house of mortal man can equal the palace 


126 


of the gods. But even mortals may compare in 
wealth with me. That which I possess I have 
wandered much and suffered many hardships to 
gain. Yet gladly would I sacrifice my riches if 
thereby I could restore to life my dear comrades 
who perished before the walls of Troy.. Often 
sitting here in my palace I mourn for them all, 
but for none so much as for Ulysses. No other 
of all the Greeks accomplished so much as he. 
Where he is, whether alive or dead, we know not. 
His aged father Laertes, and the virtuous Penelope, 
and his son Telemachus, whom he left an infant 
in Ithaca, must be mourning much for him.” 

When Menelaus ceased speaking he saw tears 
flowing down the cheeks of one of the strangers. 
Then it occurred to him that the young man might 
be that Telemachus whose name he had just men- 
tioned, and he began to think whether it would 
be best to question him or wait until the youth 
should himself speak and tell who he was. 

At that moment the beautiful Helen entered the 
room. She was attended by three of her maids. 
One of them placed a seat of rich workmanship 
beside the throne of Menelaus for her mistress to 
sit on. Another brought a silver basket filled with 
violet threads, and upon it a golden distaff, which 
the queen herself used in her spinning; for in 


127 


ancient times the noblest ladies did not think it 
beneath them to do useful work. 

After taking her seat, Queen Helen inquired 
about the strangers. 

“ Knowest thou, Menelaus,” said she, “ who these 
visitors are ? I think one of the youths is so very 
like the noble Ulysses that he must, indeed, be no 
other than his son, Telemachus, whom his father 
left at home, a babe, when he went with the heroes 
of Greece to fight the Trojans for my sake.” 

“ I am of thy opinion, wife,” replied Menelaus, 
“ he has the face and eyes of Ulysses, and a little 
while ago he shed tears when I mentioned the noble 
chiefs name.” 

Then Pisistratus for the first time spoke, saying 
that his companion was indeed Telemachus, the son 
of Ulysses, and that he himself was son of King 
Nestor, who had sent him to guide his young friend 
to Sparta. 

Hearing this, King Menelaus again welcomed 
his guests for the sake of their fathers, and he spoke 
of his great love for Ulysses. “ I thought,” said he, 
“ that I should welcome him here when Olympian 
Jove had granted us a safe return from Troy. I 
would have founded a city for him in my own 
country and built dwellings, and brought him and 
his people and his goods from Ithaca. We might 


128 


then have met often as dear friends and neighbors, 
and only death would have parted us. But some 
god, no doubt, has seen that this would be too 
great a happiness for us, and has prevented the 
return of Ulysses.” 

They all wept, thinking of the absent hero, but 
after a little while Menelaus bade them lay aside 
their grief, and he ordered the attendants to place 
more refreshments on the tables. Helen mixed the 
wine with nepenthe, a powerful drug which made 
men forget all their sorrows. Whoever tasted of 
this drug would not shed a tear even though father 
and mother should be slain before their eyes. 

Helen, Jove-born dame, 

Had other thoughts, and with the wine they drank 

Mingled a drug, an antidote to grief 

And anger, bringing quick forgetfulness 

Of all life’s evils. Whoso drinks, when once 

It is infused and in the cup, that day 

Shall never wet his cheeks with tears, although 

His father and his mother lie in death, 

Nor though his brother or beloved son 
Fall butchered by the sword before his eyes. 

Bryant, Odyssey , Book IV. 


When they had drunk of this wine and had for a 
time forgotten all their griefs, Helen told them the 
story, related in an earlier chapter, of how Ulysses 


129 


disguised as a slave had entered the city of Troy to 
steal the famous Palladium. 

Menelaus then told about the wooden horse. 
The trick would have been discovered, he said, had 
it not been for the wisdom of Ulysses. For, while 
the horse was standing before the walls in the midst 
of the wondering Trojans, Helen came out from the 
city and walked three times round the figure calling 
upon the Greek heroes by name, and imitating the 
voices of their wives to tempt them to answer. 
This she did, prompted by some god who wished 
to give the victory to the Trojans. 

One of the Greeks, An'ti-clus by name, was about 
to answer aloud, when Ulysses pressed his hands 
tightly upon his mouth and prevented him from 
speaking. Thus the “ man of many arts ” saved 
his countrymen, for if Anticlus had cried out, the 
Trojans would have heard the voice and destroyed 
the wooden horse and killed all who were within. 

“ All the Achaian chiefs 
Kept silence save Anticlus, who alone 
Began to speak, when, with his powerful hands, 

Ulysses pressed together instantly 
The opening lips, and saved us all.” 

Bryant, Odyssey , Book IV. 

In such conversation about the Greek heroes at 
the Trojan War, King Menelaus and Queen Helen 


STO. OF ULYSSES — 9 


130 


and their guests spent the evening until the hour 
came for retiring to rest. Then the heralds, or 
attendants, conducted Telemachus and his com- 
panion to magnificent beds hung with beautiful 
tapestries. 

Helen called her maids 
To make up couches in the portico, 

And throw fair purple blankets over them, 

And tapestry above, and cover all 
With shaggy cloaks. Forth from the palace halls 
They went with torches, and made ready soon 
The couches ; thither heralds led the guests. 

Bryant, Odyssey, Book IV. 



XXIII. THE OLD MAN OF THE SEA. 


Early in the morning Menelaus and his guests 
arose, and the king, taking Telemachus apart from 
the others, sat by his side, and asked the object 
of his journey to Sparta. Telemachus answered 
that he had come in search of news of his father, 
and he begged Menelaus to inform him whether he 
had seen or heard anything of him. Then he told 
about the suitors and their insulting treatment of 
his mother. 

Menelaus was exceedingly angry on hearing the 
story. “ Base cowards they are,” said he, “ thus to 
insult the wife of an absent man, but they will get 
the punishment they deserve. A bitter wedding 
feast shall be theirs when Ulysses returns home. 
Now about thy inquiries; I shall relate to thee 
truly all that was told me by Pro'teus, the Old Man 
of the Sea, and some of it thou wilt be pleased to 
hear. 

“On my voyage home from Troy I and my com- 
panions were detained by unfavorable winds on an 
island near E'gypt — Pha'ros they call it. Our pro- 
visions ran short, and we should have perished of 


i3 2 


hunger had not I-do'the-a, daughter of Proteus, 
taken pity on us. I met her as I was taking a 
walk by the seaside at a distance from my com- 
panions, and she said to me : 

“ ‘ Thou art foolish, O stranger, or careless, to 
linger in this isle while thy companions are weary 
with waiting and long to return home.’ 

“ I answered, ‘ O goddess, for such I take thee 
to be, I linger here unwillingly. Some of the gods 
hinder my departure. Perhaps thou canst tell me 
how we may reach our homes.’ 

“ Then she said : ‘ I will tell thee, stranger. There 
is an old man of the sea who has his haunts here. 
They call him Proteus, and he is my father. If 
thou canst lay hold on him he will tell thee 
how thou mayest reach thy home safely, and all 
else thou desirest to ask. At noon each day he 
comes out of the depths of the water and lies down 
to rest at the mouth of a cave with his sea calves 
lying around him. I will direct thee to the place 
at break of day, and thou must take with thee 
three of thy strongest companions. 

“ ‘ But I must tell thee of the man’s tricks. First 
he will count his calves, five by five on his fingers ; 
then he will lie down among them. As soon as he 
sleeps, seize him and hold him fast. He will use 
many wiles in trying to escape. He will change 


133 


himself into many forms — perhaps into a reptile 
or into water and fire, but do thou and thy com- 
panions hold him firmly until he is again the 
same as when he first appeared. Then loose thy 
hold of the old man and he will tell thee what thou 
mayest desire to know. ’ 

“After giving me these directions Idothea sprang 
into the water and disappeared beneath the waves. 

“ Next morning I and three of my companions 
went down to the shore. Idothea was already 
there, and as soon as she saw us she plunged into 
the sea and brought up four calves’ skins. Then 
she made beds for us in the sand and bade us lie 
down, and when we had lain down, she covered us 
with the skins so that the old man might think we 
were sea calves. There we waited, without making 
the least noise. 

“ At noon the old man came up out of the sea, 
and when he had counted his calves he lay down to 
sleep. Then we rushed upon him, and catching 
him in our hands, held him fast. He strove to 
escape, and changed himself into various forms, as 
Idothea had told us. First he took the form of 
a lion, then of a dragon, then of a leopard, next 
of flowing water, and then of a tall tree. But we 
held him fast, and at length the old man exclaimed : 

“ ‘ O son of A'treus, what god hath counseled 


134 


thee to insnare me, and what wouldst thou have 
me tell ? ’ 

<f I answered, saying : ‘ Old man, I am detained 
long in this isle, and I wish to know from thee 
what god hinders me from my voyage, and how I 
may return to my native land.’ 

“ Then the old man said : ‘ Thou shouldst have 
made fitting sacrifice to Jupiter and the other gods. 
There is a river in Egypt, and by its waters thou 
must offer hecatombs to the immortals. Then they 
shall give thee safe return to thy home.’ 

“ I replied that I would do as he commanded. 
‘ But tell me now, old man,’ I said, ‘ what has hap- 
pened to my friends whom I left when I set out 
from Troy. Have they reached their homes, or 
perished in the sea?’ 

“ ‘ Son of Atreus,’ he answered, ‘ why ask what 
it will grieve thee to know? Yet I shall tell thee. 
Two of thy friends have perished. Ajax was slain 
by Neptune. His ships were wrecked in a storm, 
and he himself was cast on a rock. Yet he might 
have been saved had he not defied the gods. He 
said that even against the will of the gods he would 
sail through the mighty waves. Then Neptune 
struck the rock with his trident and hurled the 
impious man into the depths of the sea. Thy 
brother Agamemnon reached home in his ships, 


135 


but in his house he was slain at a banquet by the 
treacherous /Egisthus.’ 

“ I wept with grief on hearing this. ‘ But there 
is another,’ said I, ‘ of whose fate I wish to hear.’ 

‘“The son of Laertes,’ he answered, ‘ I saw mourn- 
ing in the grotto of Calypso, who detains him in her 
island against his will. He cannot return to his 
native land for he has no ship or companions.’ 

“ Then the old man plunged into the sea. Next 
day I sailed to Egypt and there offered sacrifices 
to the gods, who immediately sent favorable winds 
which wafted jrny galleys to the shores of my own 
country.” 

Thus ended the story of Menelaus. Telemachus 
was much comforted to hear that his father was 
still alive, and he thanked King Menelaus for the 
welcome news and for his kind hospitality. Then 
they entered the banqueting hall and sat down 
with the other wedding guests to a grand ban- 
quet and the day was spent in feasting and re- 
joicing. 



XXIV. THE DREAM OF PENELOPE. 


Meanwhile the suitors at Ithaca came to hear 
of the departure of Telemachus, and they took 
counsel together to consider what to do. Noemon 
had told them that he had lent the young prince 
his ship for a voyage to Pylos, and they were afraid 
that the expedition meant some harm to them. So 
they met in a courtyard of the palace and Antinous 
proposed that he himself should go out with a ship 
and twenty men and lie in wait for Telemachus on 
his way home, and kill him. 

“ May Jupiter 

Crush him ere he can work us further harm ! 

Now give me a swift bark and twenty men 
That I may lie in ambush and keep watch 
For his return within the straits between 
This isle and rugged Samos ; then, I deem, 

He will have sought his father to his cost.” 

Brvant, Odyssey, Book IV. 

Sa'mos, also called Ceph-al-le'ni-a, was the name 
of the larger island, south from Ithaca, by which 
Telemachus would have to pass on his return, and 
to the coasts of this island Antinous went in his 
bark with twenty men, to lie in ambush for the son 
of Ulysses. 


36 


137 


But it happened that the herald, Me'don, over- 
heard the talk of the suitors as they were in coun- 
cil and he hastened to tell Penelope of the plot. 
The unhappy queen was filled with grief. She 
wept aloud and her maids gathered around her 
weeping in sympathy. Then she severely rebuked 
them for not having informed her before her son’s 
departure, and of what he was about to do. 

“ Had I -known,” cried she, “ that he was plan- 
ning this voyage I would have prevented it, or else 
he would have left me dead in this palace behind 
him.” 

But Euryclea told of how Telemachus had 
made her promise on oath that she would not let 
his mother know. 

“He made me swear,” said she, “that I would not 
tell thee before the twelfth day had passed, lest thou 
mightst make thyself ill with grieving. But now 
cease weeping and go up to thy chamber and pray 
to Minerva to protect thy son. She will hear thy 
prayer, for certain it is that the race of Ulysses is 
not hated by the gods.” 

The queen yielded to the advice of Euryclea, and 
ascended to her chamber with her maidens. There 
she prayed aloud to Minerva to save her son from 
the evil designs of the wicked suitors. The god- 
dess heard her prayer, and soon afterward, when 


138 


her maids had retired, Penelope fell into a sweet 
sleep ; and as she slept, a phantom in the likeness 
of her sister Iph-thi'ma came to her in a dream and 
spoke, saying: 

“ Be not sad, Penelope, for the gods protect thy 
son and he will return in safety.” 

Penelope thought that it was her sister, and she 
answered and said : 

“ Why hast thou come, my sister ? Thy home is 
far off and thou hast never been here before. Thou 
hast bid me not to be sad, but how can I cease 
from grieving, for now not only have I lost my 
husband, but my beloved son is gone, and his 
enemies are plotting to slay him.” 

“ Be of good courage,” the phantom replied. 
“ Have no fear for thy son. The goddess Minerva 
has sent me to tell thee that she will guard him 
against all harm.” 

“ If thou be a goddess,” cried Penelope, “ I pray 
thee tell me, also, whether my husband is still alive, 
or has gone down to the land of Pluto.” 

“ Of him,” answered the phantom, “ I may not 
say whether he be alive or dead ; ” and so saying, 
the form vanished into the air. 

Then Penelope awoke and rose up from her 
couch with a glad heart, believing that the goddess 
had heard and granted her prayer. 


XXV. A VOYAGE ON A RAFT. 


We now return to Ulysses whom we left in 
Calypso’s isle sorrowing that he could not sail 
over the sea to his beloved Ithaca. The mes- 
senger Mercury, as has been already said, was com- 
manded by Jupiter to hasten down to Calypso and 
convey to her the decree of the gods that Ulysses 
should without further delay be permitted to 
depart. 

“ Tell her,” said he, “that he shall prepare a raft, 
and, after sailing for twenty days and suffering many 
hardships, he will reach the land of Sche'ri-a, where 
the Phae-a'cians dwell. They will honor him like 
a god, and send him in a ship to his native land.” 

With this message Mercury descended from 
Olympus, and, speeding like the wind over land 
and sea, came to the grotto of Calypso. The 
place was fragrant with the sweet odor of cedar 
wood that burned on the hearth within. Round 
about were many kinds of trees, — alders, poplars, 
and cypresses — in which were the nests of birds 
whose songs resounded through the air. Vines 
bearing heavy clusters of grapes crept all over the 
139 



Mercury. 




rock, and four fountains sent their waters, bright as 
crystal, streaming in different directions over soft, 
green meadows. 

In this delightful dwelling the messenger of the 
gods found the fair nymph, Calypso, working at her 
loom and singing with beautiful voice as she wove 
a bright web with golden shuttle. But Ulysses was 
not in the grotto. He was sitting on the beach, 
looking out upon the great waters and sighing for 
his home and country. 

As soon as Calypso saw Mercury she knew who 
he was, and invited him to enter. Then she con- 
ducted him to a golden throne and set before him 
a table spread with ambrosia and nectar, the. food 
of the immortal gods. When he had eaten and 
drunk he delivered his message. He told Calypso 
everything as he had been commanded, and he 
warned her not to resist the will of Jupiter, lest 
his anger might come upon her. Then he de- 
parted, and ascending into the skies, returned to 
the mansions of the gods on high Olympus. 

Calypso was much grieved on learning that 
Ulysses could remain no longer in her island, but 
she did not dare to disobey the divine command. 
She hastened down to the seashore where the hero 
sat sorrowing, and coming near him she said : 

“ Lament no longer, brave hero, for now I will 


142 


send thee on thy way. I will supply thee with all 
things necessary, and give thee a fair wind so that 
thou mayest return to thy native land.” 

Then she told him that he must cut down trees 
and build a raft on which to sail away. But Ulysses, 
when he heard this, was afraid that the goddess 
meant him some harm. 

“ How can 1 cross the terrible sea on a raft,” said 
he, “when it is so hard even for good ships? I will 
not embark on a raft unless thou swear to me that 
thou dost not mean some evil against me.” 

“ Canst thou suspect me,” answered the goddess, 
“ who have done naught to thee but good ? 
However I swear by the earth and wide heaven, 
and by the water of the Styx, which is the most 
sacred oath of the gods, that I will not devise evil 
against thee, but shall do for thee as I would for 
myself in a like need.” 

They now returned to the grotto and Ulysses 
sat on the shining throne on which the messenger 
of the gods had sat. Then the nymph placed 
before him all kinds of the richest food that 
mortals eat. She herself took her seat opposite to 
him, and her maids brought her ambrosia and 
nectar. When their meal was over she spoke to 
him about his voyage, telling him that he had yet 
more dangers to encounter. 


143 


“ Couldst thou but know,” said she, “ what suffer- 
ings are before thee e’er thou canst reach thy native 
land, thou wouldst remain on this island with me.” 

“ Gracious goddess,” answered the hero, “ I have 
already suffered much, and more I am ready to 
suffer to see again my wife and son and my country 
and my home.” 

They conversed together for some time, and 
when darkness came they retired to their couches 
and lay down to repose for the night. 

In the morning Calypso gave Ulysses an ax and 
an adze and led him to a corner of the island where 
tall trees grew — poplar and alder and pine. He 
cut down twenty of the tallest and lopped off the 
branches and dressed them. Calypso next brought 
him an auger with which he bored holes in the 
long trunks and he fitted them together and fas- 
tened them with pegs. Then he made a mast, and 
sail yard and a rudder, and fixed them in their 
places, and he fenced the sides all round with 
wicker work to protect himself against the rush of 
the waves Calypso next brought linen for sails 
and the raft was properly rigged. Then ballast 
was put in to keep the raft steady, and it was 
moved into the water with levers. 

All this work was done in four days, and on 
the fifth day everything was ready for departure. 





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( 144 ) 


Calypso’s Farewell to Ulysses. 




145 


Calypso now gave the hero beautiful new garments 
and a skin of good wine and a supply of water and 
provisions. Ulysses then took his leave of the fair 
nymph whose guest he had been for over seven 
years, and he embarked and set sail. The last gift 
of the friendly goddess was a favorable wind which 
bore the raft smoothly along, while Ulysses sat at 
the helm rejoicing that at length he was on his 
homeward voyage. So anxious was he to guard 
against any mishap, that he could not sleep. By 
day he watched the sun and by night the stars, so 
that he might keep his raft on the course which 
Calypso had directed him to take. 

Thus he sailed for seventeen days, but on the 
eighteenth the shadowy hills of the land of Phae-a'- 
ci-a appeared in the distance like a shield on the 
dark sea. Just then Neptune happened to be 
returning from Ethiopia, and he saw the little 
bark wafted gently along the surface of the calm 
waters. Enraged at the thought that Ulysses was 
approaching the end of his sufferings, the angry 
god exclaimed: 

“ Can it be that in my absence the immortals 
have granted favors to this man ? He is now near 
a friendly land, and doubtless he hopes to escape 
further punishment at my hands, but I shall quickly 
send more calamity upon him.” 


STO. OF ULYSSES — IO 


146 


So saying the monarch of the ocean shook his 
trident and summoned the clouds and storms from 
all parts of the wide heavens. Instantly the light 
of day was shut out from sea and sky, and a terrific 
hurricane broke forth which lashed the waters into 
a raging tumult and swept furiously around the 
raft of Ulysses. The hero was almost paralyzed 
with terror and grief. 

“ Wretched man that I am,” he cried, “what is to 
become of me ? I fear that all the goddess Calypso 
said to me was true, and that I must suffer more 
evils before I see my native land. How Jupiter has 
enveloped the heavens in dread darkness ! The 
tempest rages more furiously. Certain destruction 
is coming upon me. O how happy were my com- 
rades who fell fighting bravely before the walls of 
Troy! Would that I had died there, for then I 
should have had funeral rites, and great honor 
would be mine among the Greeks; but now I 
must perish by a miserable death.” 

As he spoke a mighty wave rushed down upon 
the raft, tore the rudder from the hands of Ulysses, 
hurled him into the raging sea, broke the mast 
in two, and sent the sails flying over the waves. 

For a long time Ulysses was under the water, 
for he was kept down by the weight of the gar- 
ments Calypso had given him. 


147 


“ The billow held him long 
Beneath the waters, and he strove in vain 
Quickly to rise to air from that huge swell 
Of ocean, for the garments weighed him down 
Which fair Calypso gave him.” 

Bryant, Odyssey, Book V. 


At # length, however, he rose to the surface. 
Then with a desperate effort he got within reach 
of the raft. He grasped it with both hands, and 
springing to the deck, he sat down and held on 
with all his might. The storm still raged furiously, 
and the raft was tossed to and fro upon the roaring 
waters. 

But the sea goddess, Leu-co'the-a, took pity on 
the unfortunate hero, and came and rescued him 
from death. She had once been a mortal woman, 
and dwelt with her father, King Cad'mus of Thebes, 
but now she was a deity of the sea, and her abode 
was among the ocean nymphs beneath the wave. 
She appeared in the form of a cormorant, and 
perching on an end of the raft she spoke thus to 
Ulysses : 

“ O unfortunate man, why is the wrath of Nep- 
tune so violent against thee ? But though he seeks 
to destroy thee, he shall not succeed. Listen to 
what 1 shall tell thee. Put off thy garments, let 
the raft go with the winds, and swim to the land of 


48 


the Phaeacians. Take this scarf and spread it under 
thy breast and it will bear thee on in safety, for it 
cannot sink, as it was woven by a goddess. When 
thou hast reached the shore, take it off and throw 
it into the sea, turning thy face away while thou 
art casting it from thee.” 

“ This heavenly scarf beneath thy bosom bind 
And live ; give all thy terrors to the wind. 

Soon as thy arms the happy shore shall gain, 

Return the gift, and cast it in the main : 

Observe my orders, and with heed obey, 

Cast it far off, and turn thy eyes away.” 

Pope, Odyssey, Book V. 

So saying she gave the hero the scarf, and then 
diving into the sea, she disappeared from his sight. 
Ulysses was in doubt whether he should do as the 
goddess had directed. He feared it might be a trick 
to deceive him. He, therefore, kept his seat as 
before, but in a few moments Neptune sent another 
mighty wave, which rent the raft asunder, scattering 
the beams of wood over the raging sea. Ulysses, 
with heroic effort, held on to one of them and sat 
upon it. Then he quickly threw off his clothes, 
spread under his breast the scarf the goddess had 
given him, jumped into the water and swam with all 
his might in the direction of the shore. Neptune 
saw him, and shaking his head he said to himself: 


149 


“ Perhaps thou mayest escape, but even if so I 
think thou shalt have cause to remember my power.” 

But Minerva now came to the hero’s aid. She 
bound up all the winds and made them keep still, 
except the north wind, which she left free to help 
Ulysses on his course. For two days and two 
nights he floated along, but on the third day he 
saw land. It was the land of the Phaeacians, and 
he was near enough to hear the waves beating 
against the rocks and crags that bordered the 
shore. He was now in great fear lest a wave 
should sweep him in and dash him against one of 
the sharp cliffs. 

“ Alas,” said he, “ have I been borne with so 
much suffering over the stormy deep to meet my 
death on dry land ! There is nowhere for me to 
rest my feet, and if I turn toward the sea Neptune 
may send his hurricanes against me.” 

While he was thus in doubt as to what course 
to take, a great wave came rushing on behind him 
and bore him swiftly to the craggy shore. His 
bones would have been fractured against the 
rugged cliffs, had not Minerva put it into his 
mind to grasp one of the rocks and hold on 
until the wave had spent its force. But quickly 
another huge swell rolled in and returning with 
a mighty sweep carried him again out to sea. 


150 

Then with a great effort he swam to another 
part of the coast, and soon he came to the mouth of 
a river where the land was free from rocks and 
where there was a shady grove to shelter him from 
the winds. Here he swam ashore, but no sooner 
had he touched dry earth than he fell down ex- 
hausted, the salt water gushing out of his mouth 
and nostrils. When he had recovered a little, he 
thought of the scarf, and he cast it into the sea 
according to the instructions of the goddess. 

He now looked around for some spot on which 
to lie down and rest. The best place seemed to be 
the little grove, so he turned his steps in that direc- 
tion. When he got there he found two olive trees 
growing close together, their leaves and branches 
intertwining and making a pleasant shade. Here 
Ulysses made a bed of leaves, and stretching his 
weary limbs upon it, he was soon sunk in sleep. 



XXVI. CAST ASHORE IN PH^ACIA. 


While Ulysses was reposing under the olive 
trees, Minerva hastened to the palace of King Al- 
cin'o-us in the city of the Phaeacians. There the 
king’s daughter, Nau-sic'a-a, a damsel beautiful as 
a goddess, lay sleeping in her chamber, and near her 
were two of her maiden attendants. Minerva en- 
tered the chamber like a breath of air. Then she- 
took the likeness of the daughter of the famous 
mariner Dy'mas, a maiden whom Nausicaa loved, 
and appearing to the princess in a dream, she 
said : 

“Nausicaa, why art thou so indolent? Thy 
splendid garments lie neglected, while thy wed- 
ding day is near when thou and thy maids should 
wear robes of spotless beauty. Let us then go 
together to wash them. I shall gladly be thy 
assistant. So early in the morning ask thy father 
for mules and a chariot to carry us and thy mantles 
and girdles ; for the washing place is distant from 
the city, and it would not be seemly for thee to go 
on foot.” 

In the morning Nausicaa wondered much at her 


152 


dream, and she hastened to speak with her parents 
about it. The queen was sitting at her loom weav- 
ing a purple web, and the king was about going 
forth to attend a council of his chiefs. Nausicaa 
begged her father to give her a chariot and mules 
that she and her maids might take her garments 
to the river to wash them and also some of the gar- 
ments of other members of the family. 

“ It is fitting,” said she, “ that thou thyself have 
clean robes when thou goest to the council of the 
chiefs. And my five brothers, three of whom are 
yet unmarried, would be pleased to have fresh laun- 
dered apparel when they go to the dance.” 

She did not speak of her own marriage, but her 
father understood what was in her thoughts, and 
he gave orders to the servants to make ready the 
chariot. This was soon done, and the maids has- 
tened to bring the garments that were to be washed 
and put them into the chariot, and they put in pro- 
visions and wine and a cruse of oil to anoint them- 
selves after their bath, for they meant to bathe in 
the cool water of the crystal stream. 

Then Nausicaa and the maidens who were to 
accompany her mounted into their places in the 
chariot. She herself took the reins, and they were 
soon speeding along at a rapid pace on the way to 
the river. When they reached the washing place, 


153 


which was at the mouth of the river close to the 
sea, they unyoked the mules and let them graze at 
will on the banks of the stream. Then they washed 
the garments, and spread them to dry on the 
gravelly beach where the small stones had been 
whitened by the tide. 

While waiting for the garments to be dried, they 
bathed in the river, and anointed themselves with 
the oil. Then they sat down on the grass, spread 
out their provisions, and began to eat and drink. 
After their meal they amused themselves with play- 
ing at ball. They sang while they played, as was 
the custom in those times, and Nausicaa looked as 
beautiful among her maidens as the goddess Diana 
among her sporting nymphs. 

At length it was time for them to prepare to 
return home, and they yoked their mules and 
packed the dry garments in the chariot. When 
they were just about to move off, Nausicaa threw 
the ball with which they had been playing to one 
of the maids. The damsel missed it, and it fell into 
the river. They all shouted out together, not 
knowing that there was a stranger lying asleep in 
the grove within a short distance from where they 
stood. Awakened by the noise, Ulysses, for it was 
he, started up and looking around him in astonish- 
ment, exclaimed : 



( 154 ) 




Playing Ball. 




155 


“ Woe is me ! Am I again thrown among savage 
and cruel people who do not reverence the gods or 
show kindness to the distressed ? But I think I 
have heard the voices of females. Perhaps they are 
nymphs of the mountains, or mortals who inhabit 
the place. I will try and see.” 

Ulysses then broke from the trees some leafy 
branches and gathered them around his waist and 
limbs. Thus clad he issued from his retreat and 
walked toward the river bank, from which he 
thought the voices had come. When the maidens 
caught sight of him they all fled in terror in differ- 
ent directions. But Nausicaa did not flee, for Mi- 
nerva had given her courage, and so she waited to 
see what might happen. 

The first idea of Ulysses when he beheld the 
lady was to hasten forward, throw himself on his 
knees and beg her to give him clothing and show 
him the way to the city, if city there were in that 
country. But after a little consideration he thought 
it better not to approach too near, lest he should 
offend or frighten her. He therefore stood still, as 
soon as he had come within hearing distance, and 
addressing her, said : 

“ O lady, art thou a goddess or a mortal ? If 
thou art a mortal, happy must thy father and mother 
be, but happier still will be he that shall lead thee 



( J 5 6 ) 


Ulysses’ Meeting with Nausicaa 



157 


to his home as a bride, for never have I seen man 
or woman so beautiful. With wonder and rever- 
ence I behold thee, for thou art like the young palm 
tree I saw in De'los isle by the altar of Apollo. 
Never did a tree more beautiful spring from the 
earth, and I gazed upon it with admiration. Even 
so I look upon thee, and fear to come near thee to 
beg thy assistance, though I am in much need. 
Yesterday I was cast upon this shore after being 
tossed on the stormy sea for twenty days sailing 
from the island of Ogygia. I beseech thee, O lady, 
to have pity upon me. Show me the way to the 
city and give me some clothing, even though old 
and worn, if thou hast brought such with thee, and 
may the gods reward thee with every happiness thou 
canst desire.” 

When Ulysses ceased speaking, Nausicaa, who had 
listened with much attention, answered him saying: 

“ O stranger, thou dost not appear to be an un- 
worthy man, but Jupiter gives happiness to mortals 
as he pleases, to the bad and to the good. To thee 
he has given griefs, and it is fitting that thou endure 
them in patience. But in this land thou shalt not 
want clothing or aught else a distressed stranger 
needs. I will show thee the way to our city. This 
land is Phaeacia and I am the daughter of the king, 
Alcinous.” 


58 


Nausicaa then called her maids and bade them 
show the stranger some sheltered spot near the 
river, where he might wash himself. She also told 
them to give him some garments which they might 
select from the clothing in the chariot. The maids 
cheerfully obeyed the commands of their mistress. 
They directed Ulysses to a suitable place on the 
river bank, and they took a tunic and mantle and 
other garments from the chariot and the cruse of 
oil to anoint himself with after bathing, and they 
placed them near him on the sand. 

Then Ulysses washed himself and anointed his 
cleansed skin with the fragrant oil, and put on the 
rich garments they had given him. And Minerva 
gave him fresh strength and beauty, and his hair 
began to curl like a hyacinth flower 

Jove’s daughter, Pallas, caused him to appear 
Of statelier size and more majestic mien, 

And bade the locks that crowned his head flow down 
Curling like blossoms of the hyacinth. 

Bryant, Odyssey Book VI. 

The appearance of the stranger now excited the 
admiration of the maidens, and as he walked toward 
them Nausicaa said to her companions: 

“ This man has come among us by the will of the 
immortals. Although at first he was unseemly, 


i59 


now he looks like a god. But he must be hungry ; 
let us give him food and drink.” 

The maids quickly placed before him some of 
the provisions they had brought with them in the 
chariot, and he ate greedily, for he had not had a 
meal for a long time. Then Nausicaa told him to 
accompany them until they came near the city, but 
not to approach the palace until after they should 
have reached home. 

“ If thou shouldst come with us into the city,” 
said she, “ some idle talkers might say : ‘ Who is this 
handsome stranger that Nausicaa brings ? Perhaps 
she has invited him from over the sea to be her 
husband, thus making little of the men of Phaeacia.’ 
They might say such things, and it would be a re- 
proach to me. Therefore do thou attend to what 
I tell thee. Outside the city there is a grove of 
poplars sacred to Minerva. Sit there and wait long 
enough for us to reach home; then go to the city and 
inquire for the palace of Alcinous. It is easy to 
find, for there is no other house of the Phaeacians so 
beautiful. When thou shalt reach the door, enter 
and hasten through the halls until thou shalt come to 
the room where my mother sits at her loom. Thou 
shalt see my father sitting near, but pass by him, and 
throw thyself at my mother’s feet, begging her good 
will that thou mayest return to thy own country.” 


i6o 

“ Near her is my father’s throne, 

On which he sits at feasts, and drinks the wine 
Like one of the immortals. Pass it by 
And clasp my mother’s knees ; so mayst thou see 
Soon and with joy the day of thy return, 

Although thy home be far. For if her mood 
Be kindly toward thee, thou mayst hope to greet 
Thy friends once more, and enter yet again 
Thy own fair palace in thy native land.” 

Bryant, Odyssey , Book VI. 


Nausicaa having thus instructed Ulysses as to 
what he should do, started with her maids for the 
city. Ulysses accompanied them until they came 
to the grove of Minerva. There he waited and the 
others proceeded on their way and reached the 
palace about sunset. 



XXVII. THE PALACE OF ALCINOUS. 


As soon as Ulysses thought that time enough 
had elapsed to permit Nausicaa and her companions 
to reach the palace, he left the grove and went 
toward the city. Minerva threw about him a thick 
mist so that he might pass unseen, but he himself 
was able to see everything around him. As he was 
entering the city, the goddess appeared at his side 
in the form of a young maiden carrying a pitcher. 
As soon as he saw her he asked her to show him 
the way to the king’s palace. 

“ I will gladly do so,” replied the maiden, “ the 
palace is near my father’s house. I shall lead the 
way and do thou follow, but take care not to speak to 
any person or inquire about anything, for the people 
here do not like those who come from other lands.” 

She then walked on, and Ulysses followed until 
they came to the palace. Then the maiden again 
spoke : 

“ This, stranger, is the house you seek. Pass 
in without fear, and go first to the queen. They 
call her A-re'te. The people honor her as a god- 
dess, for she is virtuous and wise. She settles all 

STO. OF ULYSSES — II l6l 


62 


their disputes, and if thou canst gain her favor, it 
will be well for thee.” 

The maiden then departed and Ulysses stood 
gazing in wonder at the lofty palace with its walls 
of brass, and doors of gold, and pillars of silver: 

On every side beneath 
The lofty roof of that magnanimous king 
A glory shone as of the sun or moon. 

There from the threshold, on each side, were walls 
Of brass that led towards the inner rooms, 

With blue steel cornices. The doors within 
The massive building were of gold, and posts 
Of silver on the brazen threshold stood, 

And silver was the lintel, and above 
Its architrave was gold; and on each side, 

Stood gold and silver mastiffs. 

Bryant, Odyssey, Book VII. 

This bright palace stood in the middle of a 
beautiful garden where all kinds of rich fruits and 
flowers grew. The trees bore fruit all the year 
round, for in that favored land the mild and ever- 
blowing west wind caused growing buds to follow 
ripening fruit in perpetual succession. 

The balmy spirit of the western gale 
Eternal breathes on fruits, untaught to fail : 

Each dropping pear a following pear supplies, 

On apples apples, figs on figs arise : 


The same mild season gives the blooms to blow, 

The buds to harden, and the fruits to grow. 

. Pope, Odyssey , Book VII. 

In this delightful garden there were two foun- 
tains. One of them sent its crystal streams through 
the trees and flowers, and the other flowed into a 
reservoir from which all the citizens filled their 
water vessels. 

After standing for a while admiring these beauties, 
Ulysses entered the spacious hall of the palace. 
Here the chiefs and princes of the Phasacians were 
assembled making their libations of wine to Mer- 
cury which was one of the customary preparations 
for retiring to rest. Passing through the assembly 
Ulysses made his way to where Queen Arete sat 
beside the king ; and he threw himself on his knees 
before her. Then suddenly the mist vanished from 
about him, and all were astonished at beholding a 
stranger whom they had not seen entering. But 
Ulysses, without paying any heed to the surprise of 
the assembly, addressed the queen and said : 

“ O Queen, I have come to thee and to thy hus- 
band and to these guests to beseech help after 
having endured many sufferings. May the gods 
grant that you shall live happily, and shall hand 
down your possessions in peace to your children. 
But aid me, I pray thee, to return to my native 


164 

land, for I have long been in grief, absent from my 
home and my friends.” 

When he had spoken these words Ulysses sat 
down in the ashes near the fire and all looked at 
him for some time in silent wonder. At length the 
oldest of the chiefs, the venerable hero Ech-e-ne'us, 
broke the silence and said : 

“ This is not to thy honor, O Alcinous, that a 
stranger in thy house should sit in the ashes. 
Raise him up and seat him on a throne and com- 
mand thy servants to bring wine that we may make 
libations to Jupiter, the patron of suppliants ; and let 
the housekeeper bring the stranger meat and drink.” 

On hearing this, Alcinous spoke words of wel- 
come to Ulysses and taking him by the hand led 
him to a throne near that on which he himself had 
been sitting. He then ordered the servants to bring 
wine for the libation, and meat and drink for the 
stranger. When they had made their libations, 
pouring wine upon the ground in honor of Jupiter, 
and when Ulysses had refreshed himself by partak- 
ing of the good things set before him, the king 
addressed the assemblage saying: 

“ Chiefs and leaders, to-morrow we shall meet in 
council to consider about sending the stranger to 
his home. Then we shall fittingly entertain him 
and make sacrifices to the gods.” 


65 


They all approved of the proposal of the king. 
Soon afterward they withdrew from the palace, and 
each went to his own home. Ulysses remained in 
the banqueting hall and talked with the king and 
queen. It was not long before the queen recog- 
nized the garments he wore as some of the work of 
her own loom, and she said to him : 

“ Stranger, who art thou, and who gave thee these 
garments? Surely thou canst not say that thou 
hast come over the sea wearing these.” 

Ulysses then told the story of his voyage on the 
raft, of his being cast ashore at the mouth of the 
river, and of the princess giving him clothing and 
food and directing him to the city. Alcinous was 
displeased that Nausicaa had not brought him with 
her to the palace. But Ulysses made an excuse 
for her. He said that he himself had not wished it, 
for he feared that the king might be angry if a 
stranger should come to his house with his daughter 
and her maids. 

The king then spoke friendly words to Ulysses, 
telling him that on the morrow they would make 
suitable preparations for his return to his home. 
After some further conversation they all retired to 
rest for the night. 


XXVIII. HONORED BY THE PH^ACIANS. 


Next morning King Alcinous conducted Ulysses 
to the forum where the council was to be held. 
Minerva, disguised as a herald, had previously gone 
through the city, calling the chiefs to the assembly, 
and to each she spoke, saying : 

“ Hasten to the forum and see the stranger who 
is a guest in the house of Alcinous. He has wan- 
dered over many seas, and in beauty he is like a 
god.” 

When the chiefs were assembled the king told 
them about the stranger. 

“ He has wandered in many lands,” said he, “and 
he has been cast helpless on our shores. He begs 
us to send him. to his home from which he has been 
long absent. Let us give him a ship and a crew 
of our best seamen. No stranger is denied succor 
who seeks it at our hands. While the young men 
prepare the ship, do you chiefs come to my palace, 
that we may entertain the stranger as is fitting, and 
the bard De-mod'o-cus will make our festivity joyous 
with song.” 


67 


Then the king returned to the palace accom- 
panied by Ulysses and the chiefs ; and soon a rich 
banquet was spread in the great hall, and they sat 
down at the well-filled tables. The herald Pon- 
ton'o-iis led in Demodocus, and conducted him to a 
seat of honor, placing the harp within reach of his 
hand, for the minstrel was blind. 

Pontonoiis mid the guests 
Placed for the bard a silver-studded throne, 

Against a lofty column hung his harp 
Above his head, and taught him how to find 
And take it down. Near him the herald set 
A basket and fair table, and a cup 
Of wine, that he might drink when he desired ; 

Then all put forth their hands and shared the feast. 

Bryant, Odyssey , Book VIII. 

After the banquet the minstrel played upon his 
harp and sang a song about the Trojan War. It 
told of a dispute between Achilles and Ulysses as 
to how Troy could be taken, and the war brought 
to an end. Achilles contended that the city could 
be taken only by force, and Ulysses said that it 
could be taken only by stratagem. 

This was the subject of the song of Demodocus. 
Ulysses wept as he listened and drew his mantle over 
his face to hide his tears. King Alcinous was the 
only one of the company who noticed the stranger s 


distress, and to divert his mind from the subject of 
his grief he arose and said : 

“ Let us now go forth and take part in trials of 
strength and speed, that our guest, when he returns 
home, may tell his friends how much the Phaeacians 
excel in leaping and running and other contests.” 

The king himself led the way, and all followed 
him to the forum, where the young athletes imme- 
diately began to show their skill in various exer- 
cises, while the elders sat down as spectators. 

La-od'a-mas, the king’s eldest son, proved himself 
to be the best boxer, and his brother Clyt-o-ne'us 
won in the foot race. A young chief, Eu-ry'a-lus, 
was the best at wrestling ; another chief, E-la'treus, 
threw the quoit further than any other, and Am- 
phi'a-lus was the champion at leaping. 

After they had all taken part in many of the 
exercises, Euryalus invited the stranger to show his 
skill, but Ulysses answered : 

“ Why, my friend, dost thou ask me to join in 
your sports when my mind is troubled about other 
things ? I sit among you thinking only of my home 
and country and how to return to my dear wife and 
son.” 

Then Euryalus remarked in a tone of contempt 
that the stranger did not look like a man who had 
any skill in the exercises of heroes. 


169 


“ Doubtless,” said he, “ thou art one whose care 
is trade and the gaining of wealth.” 

“ This is not spoken well,” said Ulysses, looking 
sternly at Euryalus. “ The gods do not endow all 
alike with the gifts of beauty and wisdom and elo- 
quence. To thee they have given a handsome form 
but not much understanding, for thou hast uttered 
foolish words. I am not unskilled in exercises, as 
thou dost say. In my youth I was among the first 
in such things, but I have suffered much in war 
and on the stormy waves. Nevertheless, since thou 
dost provoke me to it by thy offensive words, I will 
make trial of my skill.” 

So saying he started up and seizing the largest 
and heaviest of the quoits, he swung it around 
his head and hurled it off with mighty force. It 
whizzed through the air, and flew far beyond the 
points reached by the quoits the others had thrown. 
Minerva marked the spot, for she was there in the 
form of an attendant, and she said to Ulysses : 

“ Stranger, a blind man could distinguish this 
mark, it is so far from the others. Sure I am that 
none of the Phaeacians can pass it.” 

Then Ulysses challenged them all to compete 
with him in boxing or in the foot race. 

* “ I shall make trial with all of you youths,” said 
he, “except Laodamas who is my host, for it is 


170 


not seemly to contend with a host. In any contests 
becoming a man I can compete. I well know how 
to handle the polished bow, and I can hurl a spear 
as far as any one can send an arrow. Perhaps some 
of you may excel me in running, for my limbs have 
lost strength through hard labor and much suffer- 
ing on the stormy sea.” 

As no one ventured to answer this challenge, 
King Alcinous arose from his seat and said : 

“ Stranger, thy words are not offensive to us, but 
we Phaeacians have not much skill in boxing or 
wrestling. We are swift in running, and are skilled in 
managing ships. In dancing also we take pleasure. 
And now our young men shall show how they sur- 
pass in this exercise, so that when thou shalt return 
home thou mayest tell thy friends.” 

Then Demodocus took his harp and played, and 
the youths danced. The king’s sons, Laodamas 
and Ha'li-us, were the best dancers, and the king 
commanded them to dance alone. One of them 
threw a purple ball high into the air, and the other 
caught it as it came down. Then they cast it from 
one to the other while they danced, and the assem- 
bly loudly applauded. 

One flung it towards the shadowy clouds on high, 

The other springing upward easily 
Grasped it before it touched the ground again. 


} 7 * 

And when they thus had tossed the ball awhile, 

They danced upon the nourishing earth, and oft 
Changed places with each other, while the youths 
That stood within the circle filled the air 
With their applauses. 

Bryant, Odyssey , Book VIII. 

When this dance was over, Ulysses expressed ad- 
miration of the performance, and the young men 
were highly pleased. The king then addressing 
the assembly, said : 

“ Chiefs of Phaeacia, this stranger seems a good 
and wise man. Let us now make him presents 
such as generous hosts should bestow on a deserv- 
ing guest. There are twelve princes of Phaeacia 
and I am the thirteenth. Let each of us give him 
a mantle and a tunic and a talent of gold, and. let 
us bring them immediately that our guest may 
see them and have cause for rejoicing before he 
sits down to our evening feast. Let Euryalu.s 
also bring a gift, and so make amends for his 
thoughtless words to the stranger.” 

They all approved of the proposal of the king 
and each of the princes sent a herald to bring hi$ 
gifts. The gift of Euryalus was a silver-hUted 
sword with a scabbard of ivory. Ulysses, afte.r 
receiving it and speaking grateful words to £hte 
youth, slung the weapon by his side. 

The heralds soon brought the other gifts, and as 


172 


it was now sundown the king and all the princes 
and chiefs returned to the palace. Queen Arete 
gathered all the costly presents together and placed 
them in a beautiful chest. She also put into the 
chest a magnificent golden cup which the king 
added to his own gifts. Then the queen told Ulysses 
to fasten the lid himself and bind the chest round 
with a strong cord so that it might be secure during 
his voyage home. 

“ Look to the lid thyself, and cast a cord 
Around it, lest, upon thy voyage home, 

Thou suffer loss, when haply thou shalt take 
A pleasant slumber in the dark-hulled ship.” 

Bryant, Odyssey, Book VIII. 

When he had fastened the lid of the chest and 
firmly bound it with a cord the attendants con- 
ducted Ulysses to the bath. After bathing, he 
anointed himself with oil and put on beautiful 
garments which they had prepared for him — gar- 
ments made by Queen Arete’s own hands. On his 
way back to the banqueting hall, where the king 
and the chiefs were waiting to receive and entertain 
him, he was accosted by the beauteous Nausicaa 
who was standing near one of the pillars that sup- 
ported the lofty roof of the palace. 

“ Stranger,” said she, “ I bid thee farewell. Soon 
thou shalt depart for thy native land. When dwell- 


173 


in g there wilt thou sometimes remember that to 
me thou owest the preservation of thy life ? ” 

“ Daughter of the noble Alcinous,” replied Ulys- 
ses, “ thou hast indeed saved my life, and all my 
days I shall remember and bless thee.” 

He then entered the hall and was conducted 
to a seat beside the king at a table spread with 
rich food and drinks. Demodocus, the bard, was 
also in his place of honor, and when the feast 
was over, Ulysses requested him to sing again 
about the Trojan War, and particularly about 
the wooden horse by which the city was destroyed. 
The minstrel took his harp and struck its chords 
with the hand of a master. Then he began his 
song. 

Before it was finished Ulysses was again in tears, 
for much of the song was about himself. It told 
how the Greeks sailed away from Troy leaving the 
wooden horse behind them on the plain ; how the 
Trojans dragged the horse within their walls; and 
how, in the dead of night when they were all 
asleep, Ulysses and his companions came out and 
gave the signal to the other Greeks, who quickly 
returned and destroyed the city. 

While listening to the bard singing about the 
deeds of himself and his brave comrades in the 
great war, Ulysses could not refrain from weep- 


74 


in g. King Alcinous noticed the distress of his 
guest and wished to know the cause of it, so he 
arose and said : 

“ Chiefs of the Phaeacians, there is some grief in 
the heart of our guest. The singing of the bard is 
not pleasant to him, for while listening he has been 
weeping. Let us beg him to be comforted, for our 
banquet is in his honor and we regard him as a 
brother. And let us ask him to tell us about him- 
self. We wish to know his name and the name of 
his country, so that we may send him safely thither. 
For our people know many countries and seas, and 
many they have conducted safely over the waves. 
Indeed I have heard my father say that Neptune 
was angry with us for conducting so many, and 
threatened that some day he would destroy a 
Phaeacian ship returning from such a voyage, and 
change it into a mountain in front of our harbor, 
so that no more of our ships should go forth. But 
now, stranger, tell us of thy wanderings, what coun- 
tries and people thou hast seen, and why thou art 
grieved at hearing about Troy. Perhaps some of 
thy kindred have perished before its walls, or per- 
haps thou hast lost a beloved comrade.” 

Ulysses at once complied with the request of the 
king. He told who he was, and related his adven- 
tures from the time he and his companions left 


i75 


Troy until, alone and helpless, he met the princess 
Nausicaa and her maids at the seashore. 

King Alcinous and the Phasacian chiefs listened 
in wonder to the story, and when it was finished 
the king said : 

“ O Ulysses, great indeed have been thy suffer- 
ings, but thou shalt soon be happy in thy own 
country. To you chiefs I say let us give this noble 
guest other gifts before he departs. Let us each 
give him a tripod and a vase, for of such honor he 
is worthy.” 

The chiefs applauded the words of the king and 
the festivities of the day being now at an end they 
all returned to their homes to rest for the night. 



XXIX. ITHACA AT LAST. 


In the morning the chiefs brought their gifts to 
the ship, which was now ready for sailing. The 
king himself went down and examined all parts of 
the vessel to see that everything was properly 
arranged for the voyage. Then he returned to 
the palace, accompanied by the chiefs, and another 
grand banquet was prepared to honor their guest 
before his departure. 

King Alcinous sacrificed an ox to Jupiter, and 
after the religious ceremonies they all took their 
places at the well-filled tables, Ulysses again sit- 
ting beside the king. When they had partaken 
of the good things set before them the minstrel 
Demodocus played and sang, and they kept up 
the festivities throughout the day. At length, as 
the shades of evening approached, Ulysses arose, 
and addressing the king, said : 

“ O illustrious King, it is now time that, after 
making libation to the gods, I should say farewell. 
Thou hast given me all things that my mind could 
wish. May thy gifts prosper for me, and may I 
find my home and my wife and my son and my 

176 


177 


friends in safety. As for thee and thy people, may 
the gods send you every blessing, and may evil 
never come upon thy country.” 

They all applauded the words of Ulysses. Then 
they prayed to Jupiter to give him a prosperous 
voyage, and they poured out libations of wine to 
the god. Ulysses now arose, and approaching 
Queen Arete he said : 

“ Farewell, noble lady. May thy life be long 
and happy with thy family and thy people.” 

Ulysses then left the palace, accompanied by a 
herald sent by the king to escort him to the ship. 
The chest containing the gifts was also brought 
down, and Queen Arete sent a fresh mantle and 
tunic and provisions for the voyage. 

When Ulysses had embarked he lay down to 
sleep. Then the rowers took their seats and began 
to ply their oars vigorously, and soon the ship was 
speeding through the waters away from the land 
of the Phaeacians. 

Now placed in order, the Phaeacian train 
Their cables loose, and launch into the main : 

At once they bend, and strike their equal oars, 

And leave the sinking hills and lessening shores, 

While on the deck the chief in silence lies 
And pleasing slumbers steal upon his eyes. 

Pope, Odyssey , Book XIII. 

They sailed all night, and when at dawn of morn- 


STO. OF ULYSSES — 1 2 


i/8 


in g they reached Ithaca Ulysses still lay sleeping. 
They ran the vessel into a small harbor, at the end 
of which was a cave beneath the spreading branches 
of an olive tree. This was the harbor of Phor'cys, 
and the cave was one of the grottoes of the nymphs 
or sea-goddesses called Na'iads. Within the grotto 
were drinking vessels of stone, and an ever-flowing 
fountain of cool, fresh water, and the bees had their 
hives there, and there was a stone distaff on which 
the nymphs spun thread for their purple robes. 
The grotto had two entrances, one for mortal men 
and the other only for the gods. 

Two are the entrances : one toward the north 
By which men enter ; but a holier one 
Looks toward the south, nor ever mortal foot 
May enter there. By that way pass the gods. 

Bryant, Odyssey, Book XIII. 

The Phaeacian sailors drew their bark up to the 
beach near this grotto, and they lifted the still sleep- 
ing Ulysses from his bed, and carrying him ashore 
laid him gently on the sand. They also carried 
ashore the chest and all the other gifts which Ulys- 
ses had received from King Alcinous and his chiefs, 
and placed them carefully down beneath the olive 
tree, so that the hero might see them when he 
awoke. Then they returned to their ship and set 
sail for home. 


79 


Meanwhile Neptune, finding that Ulysses had 
thus at length reached his home, made bitter com- 
plaint to Jupiter, saying: 

“ Who shall ever again honor me or fear me, 
since the Phaeacians so dishonor me ? It was my 
wish that Ulysses should suffer more before the 
end of his wanderings, though he was at last to 
reach his country in safety, since thou didst so 
decree. But now the Phaeacians have borne him 
to Ithaca more richly laden with gifts than if he 
had returned with the spoils he took from Troy.” 

But Jupiter answered him, saying: 

“ O Neptune, none will rashly dare to dishonor 
the ruler of the ocean, for thine is still the power 
to punish such offenders. As for the Phaeacians, 
do with them as thou wilt.” 

“ I would raise a storm and destroy their ship as 
it returns from Ithaca,” answered the god, “ and I 
would place before their city a mountain to hide 
it from men voyaging over the sea, so that the 
Phaeacians no more should receive strangers and 
convey them home in their ships. This I should 
do but that I fear I might offend thee.” 

“ Do as thou sayest, my brother,” replied Jupiter, 
“ strike their ship as it enters their harbor, and 
change it into a mountain to hide their city from 
men sailing on the sea.” 



(i8o) 


Neptune. 






Neptune hastened immediately to the island of 
Scheria, and as the ship was entering the harbor, 
on its return from Ithaca, he struck it a mighty 
blow with his open hand. Instantly it was trans- 
formed into a huge rock, the top of which rose 
high in front of the city. 

He flew to Scheria, the Phaeacian isle, 

And stood, until that galley, having crossed 
The sea, came swiftly scudding. He drew near 
And smote it with his open palm, and made 
The ship a rock, fast rooted in the bed 
Of the deep sea, and then he went his way. 

Bryant, Odyssey, Book XIII. 

Thus did the offended monarch of the ocean 
punish the Phaeacians. When Alcinous heard of 
it he again remembered the prophecy of his father 
Nau-sith'o-us who long ago had said that one 
day Neptune would destroy a Phaeacian ship and 
shut in their city by a lofty mountain. 



XXX. DISGUISED AS A BEGGAR. 


When Ulysses awoke from his sleep he stood 
up and looked around in great astonishment. He 
did not know where he was, for Minerva had shed 
a mist over him so that he might not be recog- 
nized by any one until he should learn all about the 
conduct of the suitors and punish them as they 
deserved. 

So the hero feared he was again in some country 
inhabited by cruel men like the Cyclops or the Laes- 
trygonians, and he was angry with the Phaeacians 
for having, as he thought, broken their promise to 
take him to Ithaca. He was glad, however, to find 
that the gifts he had received were safe, for he soon 
noticed the chest and examined everything in it. 

Then he walked along the shore grieving much 
and wondering what he ought to do. Suddenly 
Minerva appeared before him in the form of a 
young shepherd and looking as beautiful as the son 
of a king. Ulysses at once accosted the youth and 
inquired what country that was and what people 
lived in it. 

“O stranger,” answered the goddess, “thou hast 

182 


183 


surely come from a distant country if thou hast not 
heard of this island. It is not without a name, and 
it is known to all men from east to west. A rugged 
island indeed it is, and not very large, yet it is 
neither poor nor barren, for it produces plenty of 
corn and wine, and it is excellent for feeding oxen 
and goats. Its fields are watered by seasonable 
rains, and every kind of wood is found in its forests. 
The fame of Ithaca, for so the island is named, 
has reached even to Troy, which they say is far 
from the Grecian land.” 

Ulysses rejoiced to hear that at last he was in 
his own beloved country. Not wishing, however, to 
make himself known to the stranger, he said that 
he had come from the island of Crete, where he 
had killed the son of I-dom-e-ne'us the king, for 
having tried to take from him his share of the 
spoils he had won in the Trojan War. 

“When I killed him,” continued he, “ I embarked 
on a ship bound for Pylos, but contrary winds 
drove us to this coast, where we landed. I lay 
down to sleep, and while I slept, my companions 
carried my things ashore, and then sailed away 
leaving me behind.” 

The goddess smiled while listening to this story. 
When Ulysses ceased speaking she took the form 
of a tall and beautiful woman, and then said : 


“ O deceitful man, even in thy own land thou 
canst not refrain from crafty words. But let us not 
speak of these things. Know that I am Minerva, 
the daughter of Jupiter, who have watched thee 
and guarded thee and made the Phaeacians thy 
friends. I am now come to tell thee what thou hast 
yet to endure in thy own house, and to counsel thee 
what to do.” 

Ulysses answered as if he were still in doubt that 
he was in his own country. 

“ O goddess,” said he, “ it is difficult for a mortal 
to know thee when he meets thee, for thou canst 
take any form at thy pleasure. But I know well 
thou hast been my friend, yet I cannot think that 
I am in Ithaca, for this seems another land. 
Tell me truly, I pray thee, if indeed I am in my 
own country.” 

“Truly, thou art in Ithaca,” replied the goddess, 
“ and I will show thee certain places that thou wilt 
easily know. This is the haven of Phorcys, and 
there is the shady grotto of the Naiads, where thou 
didst often sacrifice to the nymphs, and yonder 
thou mayst see the mountain Ner'i-tos clad with 
forests.” 

Then the goddess dispelled the mist that she had 
shed around Ulysses. Instantly he saw and recog- 
nized the whole landscape, and falling down he kissed 


i8 5 


the earth of his beloved Ithaca. When he arose he 
prayed to the nymphs, imploring their good will, 
and promising to offer up sacrifices to them as of 
old, when he should be once again in possession 
of his house and kingdom. 

Minerva now directed him to carry into the 
grotto the gifts he had received from the Phaeacians. 
When this was done, they sat down at the foot of 
the olive tree, and the goddess talked with him 
about the suitors and gave him instructions what he 
should do to punish them. 

“ For three years,” said she, “ they have made 
themselves masters in thy house, seeking to induce 
thy wife to take one of them for her husband. But 
she kept them off with promises and vain hopes, 
and all the while she thought of thee and prayed 
for thy return.” 

“ In truth,” exclaimed Ulysses, “ I should have 
been slain in my own house like the unhappy 
Agamemnon, but for thy warning. Stand by me 
still, O goddess, as thou wast with us when we 
destroyed the city of Troy. With thy aid I shall 
not fear to encounter all my enemies.” 

“ I shall not fail thee,” replied the goddess. “ But 
now I must change thy appearance that they may 
not know thee until the work thou hast to do is 
done. I will change thee into a wrinkled old 


86 


man with ragged garments and thou shalt appear 
but a beggar to thy son and to thy wife and to 
the suitors. 

“First go to the swineherd, for he loves thee and 
thy family. Thou wilt find him tending the swine 
near the rock of Co'rax, by the fountain Ar-e-thu'sa. 
H^e feeds them on acorns and gives them water 
from the fountain to drink. Remain there and 
inquire of him whatever thou desirest to know. 
Meanwhile, I will go to Sparta to tell thy son to 
hasten home. He has gone there to the palace 
of Menelaus to seek tidings of thee.” 

“ There remain, and carefully 
Inquire of all that thou wouldst know, while I, 

Taking my way to Sparta, the abode 
Of lovely women, call Telemachus, 

Thy son, Ulysses, who hath visited . 

King Menelaus in his broad domain, 

To learn if haply thou art living yet.” 

Bryant, Odyssey , Book XIII. 

When she ceased speaking, she touched Ulysses 
with her wand. Instantly his skin wrinkled' on 
his face, his limbs bent, and he became a miserable 
looking old man. She then gave him dirty, 
tattered clothes to put on, as well as a staff and a 
beggar’s bag to carry in his hand, and a great, 
heavy deerskin to wear over his shoulders. 


1 87 


Pallas spake and touched him with her wand, 

And caused the blooming skin to shrivel up 
On his slow limbs, and the fair hair to fall, 

And with an old man’s wrinkles covered all 
His frame, and dimmed his lately glorious eyes. 
Another garb she gave, — a squalid vest ; 

A ragged, dirty cloak, all stained with smoke ; 

And over all the huge hide of a stag, 

From which the hair was worn. A staff, beside, 

She gave, and shabby scrip with many a rent, 

Tied with a twisted thong. 

Bryant, Odyssey, Book XIII. 


Having thus arranged their plans, Minerva sped 
away to Sparta to bring home Telemachus, leaving 
Ulysses disguised as a beggar to proceed to the 
dwelling of the swineherd. 



XXXI. EU1VLEUS, THE SWINEHERD. 


Ulysses was not long in reaching the house of 
the swineherd. He needed no guide, for he well 
knew all the roads in Ithaca. The swineherd, whose 
name was Eu-mae'us, had been a faithful servant 
during all the years of his master’s absence. Ulys- 
ses found him sitting at the door of a large court 
or yard which he himself had built for the swine 
while his master was away. It was built of heavy 
stones, and was inclosed by a fence or hedge of 
hawthorn, backed all round by a paling of oak stakes 
set close together. 

In this inclosure there were twelve sties for the 
swine, and in each there were fifty sows. The 
males were kept outside the sties. There were not 
so many of them as of the sows, and their number 
was getting less every day, for Eumaeus had to send 
the best of them to the palace to supply meat for 
the table of the greedy suitors. Near the sties four 
large dogs, as strong and fierce as wild beasts, kept 
guard on the stock. 

Eumaeus, as he sat at the door, was occupied 


making shoes, or sandals, for himself out of the 
hide of an ox. His four assistants were busy 
elsewhere. Three were tending swine in the pas- 
ture fields, and the fourth had gone to the city with 
one of the swine for the suitors’ dinner. 

As Ulysses approached, the dogs rushed at him 
barking furiously, and they might have torn him to 
pieces, but that the swineherd jumped up quickly and 
drove them away. Then he spoke to the stranger : 

“ Old man,” said he, “ the dogs were near doing 
thee harm and for that I would be much grieved. 
But other sorrow the gods have sent upon me. I 
mourn the loss of a noble master and I feed his 
swine for others to eat, while he himself wanders 
in strange lands, perhaps needing food, if indeed he 
be alive. But come in, and I will give thee meat 
and drink, and when thou art refreshed thou may- 
est tell me whence thou hast come and what thy 
trouble is, for thou hast the appearance of one in 
distress.” 

Then he brought the stranger into his own hut 
and made him a seat of rushes on the floor and cov- 
ered it with goatskin. He prepared a meal for him 
of pig’s flesh and gave him a cup of good wine to 
drink. When the meal was over Ulysses thanked 
the swineherd for his hospitality, praying the gods 
to bless him for his kindness to a poor stranger. 



Ulysses and Eumaeus 



Then he requested Eumaeus to tell him of the 
absent master of whom he had spoken. 

“ My friend,” said he, “ who was the master of 
whom thou hast spoken ? Tell me his name. I 
may know something of him. Perhaps, indeed, I 
may have seen him, for I have wandered in many 
lands.” 

“ Old man,” replied the swineherd, “ thy story, I 
fear, would be but an idle one. Many wanderers 
pass here and tell their tales to my mistress about 
having seen her husband. She welcomes them and 
entertains them, and while listening to what they 
tell, the tears fall from her eyes. But he comes 
not home, therefore we all lament, and I as much 
as any, for never can I find another master so good 
as Ulysses. He loved me much and cared for me; 
but I shall not see him again, for he has surely 
perished.” 

Then Ulysses said: 

“ My friend, take courage. Thy master will 
return. Thou shalt find that what I say will come 
to pass. I am not as those idle tale tellers, for I 
hate all such. Ulysses will soon be home, and he 
will be avenged on those who insult his wife and 
his son.” 

“ Old man,” replied the swineherd, “ do not seek 
to deceive me by false hopes. Let us think of 


192 


other things ; enough there is to trouble us. I 
lament also for my master’s son, Telemachus, a 
noble youth. Some evil counsel hath tempted him 
to go to Pylos in quest of tidings of his father, and 
the suitors have made a plot to lie in wait for him 
and slay him on his return. But now, old man, 
tell me about thyself. What is thy country, and 
how didst thou come to our island ? ” 

Ulysses answered these questions by a story 
much the same as he had related to the goddess 
Minerva while she conversed with him near the 
grotto of the Naiads in the form of a shepherd. 
He did not want just yet to tell the faithful swine- 
herd who he really was, and so he told him that he 
was the son of a rich man in Crete, and that he 
had gone to the Trojan War with Idomeneus, the 
king of that island. After the war he had had 
many adventures, and in E-pi'rus he had heard 
that Ulysses had been there but a short time before. 
Then he embarked in a vessel bound for the island 
of Du-lich'i-um. On the voyage the sailors robbed 
him and gave him ragged garments, intending to 
keep him as a slave, but he contrived to escape 
from the ship, and swam to the shore where he had 
slept the previous night. 

Eumaeus was not very sure that he ought to 
believe this story ; however, he spoke kindly to the 


193 


stranger, and invited him to remain with him for 
the night. When the other swineherds returned 
supper was prepared, and they all sat down and 
ate together. After supper it rained hard, and the 
wind blew cold, and Ulysses thought he would like 
to get a cloak to cover him while he slept, so he 
told the swineherds this story : 

“ I wish,” said he, “ that I were as young and 
strong as when we formed an ambush under the 
walls of Troy. The leaders of it were Menelaus 
and Ulysses, but they desired me to accompany 
them with the others. When we reached the walls 
we crouched down among the thick bushes near 
the fortifications. It was a cold night, for snow fell, 
and ice was formed upon our shields. The others 
had cloaks, but I had left mine behind, not think- 
ing it would be so cold. In the middle of the 
night I touched Ulysses on the arm and spoke 
to him, for he lay next to me. ‘ Son of Laertes,’ 
said I, ‘ I fear I shall perish of cold. I have no 
cloak.’ Immediately his crafty mind thought of 
a plan, and he spoke to the others, saying : 
‘ Friends, I have had a dream that there is dan- 
ger in this ambush, and being far from our ships, 
we shall need more men. Let some one hasten to 
Agamemnon and ask him to send us help.’ 

“ Hearing this, one of our companions quickly 


STO. OF ULYSSES — 1 3 


194 


rose up, and throwing off his cloak that he might 
run fast, he hastened away to Agamemnon’s camp. 
Then I picked up the cloak, and wrapping myself 
in it, slept till morning. Would that I were young 
and strong as then, and some friend might give 
me a cloak. But there is little regard for one who 
is old and poor.” 

“ Old man,” replied Eumaeus, “ thou shalt not 
want for covering for the night, nor aught else 
that we can give thee. But we have not many 
cloaks, nor much change of garments. If thou be 
in Ithaca when the son of Ulysses returns he may 
give thee a cloak and a tunic.” 

Eumaeus now made a bed for the stranger, and 
spread it with skins of sheep and of goats. Ulysses 
lay down to rest, but Eumaeus did not sleep in the 
hut. He wrapped his cloak around him, and went 
out and lay down near the sties that he might be at 
hand to guard the swine in case of danger. 



XXXII. TELEMACHUS RETURNS TO ITHACA. 


Meanwhile Minerva had gone to Sparta to order 
Telemachus to return home. It was early morn- 
ing, and the young prince was still asleep, but he 
slept lightly for he was troubled about his father. 
The goddess stood by his bedside and appearing to 
him as a vision in a dream, bade him return at once 
to Ithaca. 

“ Penelope’s father and brothers,” said she, “ are 
pressing her to marry Eu-rynTa-chus, the richest 
of the suitors, and she is in grief, having no one to 
help her. Hasten home, therefore. But there is 
danger in thy way that I must tell thee of. The 
suitors have sent a ship and men to lie in wait for 
thee near Samos, seeking to kill thee. Keep far 
from that island and sail in the night. The gods 
will give thee a favoring wind. When thou shalt 
reach Ithaca send thy ship and crew to the city, but 
go thyself to the swineherd’s hut. Sleep there for 
the night, and the swineherd will go to thy mother 
and tell her that thou hast safely returned.” 

After speaking thus, Minerva ascended to high 
Olympus. Telemachus immediately awoke, and 
J 95 


196 


rose from his bed. Then he hastened to make 
preparations to set forth at once, as the goddess had 
commanded. First he aroused Pisistratus, and as 
soon as Menelaus came from his bedchamber into 
the great hall, he begged him to permit them to 
depart without delay. The king would fain have 
had his guests prolong their stay, but he yielded to 
the entreaty of Telemachus, seeing that he desired 
so much to return home. 

Then costly gifts were brought from the treasure 
room of the palace to be presented to the son of 
Ulysses. One of them was a solid silver bowl with 
rim of gold. This was the gift of Menelaus himself, 
and the most precious of all the king’s treasures, for 
it was made by Vulcan, the god of the smiths, who 
made the golden palaces of Jupiter on Mount Olym- 
pus. The gift of Megapenthes, the king’s son, was 
a silver drinking cup, and Queen Helen’s gift was a 
magnificent bridal robe for Telemachus to give to 
his wife on his wedding day. It was wrought by 
the queen’s own hands and its rich embroidery glit- 
tered like twinkling stars. These costly things 
were placed in the chariot by Pisistratus, who much 
admired their beauty. 

King Menelaus now conducted his guests into 
the banqueting room where a rich feast was spread 
before them. 


197 


The fair- haired king 

Then led them to the hall, and seated them 
On thrones and couches, where a maiden brought 
Water in a fair golden ewer, and o’er 
A silver basin poured it for their hands, 

And near them set a table smoothly wrought. 

The matron of the palace brought them bread 
And many a delicate dish to please the taste 
From stores within the house. 

Bryant, Odyssey , Book XV. 

When the banquet was over, the horses were 
yoked to the chariot. Then Pisistratus and Telem- 
achus mounted to their seats, and the king and queen 
stood at the palace gate to bid them farewell. 
Telemachus thanked them for their hospitality and 
gifts, and hoped that he might soon have the happi- 
ness of seeing his beloved father and telling him of 
the kindness he had received from the noble King 
Menelaus. 

As the young prince ceased speaking, an eagle 
suddenly appeared flying in the air in front of the 
horses. It bore in its talons a large white goose 
that it had seized in the poultry yard of the palace, 
and some of the women servants came running 
after it and shouting. The young princes in the 
chariot were astonished at the sight. Pisistratus 
considered it to be a sign or omen sent by the gods, 
and he asked King Menelaus if he could explain 


what it meant. The king could give no explana- 
tion, but Queen Helen declared it was an omen and 
a good one for Telemachus. 

“ Listen to me, O princes,” said she, “ for the 
gods have put it in my mind to tell what the omen 
means. As this eagle, coming from the mountains, 
his native haunts, has snatched away the tame bird, 
so will Ulysses, after much suffering and many 
wanderings, return to his home and be avenged 
upon those suitors who have wronged him. Per- 
haps, indeed, he is already at home and devising 
plans for their destruction.” 

“ O lady,” exclaimed Telemachus, “ may the gods 
grant that it shall come to pass. Then will I make 
offerings to thee as to a divinity ! ” 

The two princes now bade farewell to the king 
and queen and set off on their journey. By 
sundown they reached Pherae, and were, as before, 
entertained for the night at the palace of King 
Diodes. In the morning they started off again, 
and traveled all day until they came to Pylos. 

As they approached the city, Telemachus begged 
Pisistratus to drive direct to the ship, for he feared 
that if he should go to the palace, the king would 
through kindness detain him. Pisistratus, though 
reluctant to part so soon with his new friend, com- 
plied with the request, and soon they were at the 


199 


shore, where Telemachus found the galley and crew 
awaiting him. Without delay he sent the gifts 
aboard and bade farewell to Pisistratus. Then he 
embarked and on the deck offered prayers and 
poured out libations of wine to Minerva. 

While he was engaged in this religious ceremony, 
a stranger on the shore learning that it was Telem- 
achus, the son of Ulysses, who was about to sail, 
cried out to him, begging to be taken aboard. 
He said his name was The-o-clym'e-nus, that he 
had killed a man in a quarrel, and that the friends 
of the dead man were pursuing him to put him to 
death. Telemachus yielded to his entreaty, and so 
the stranger was received on board the galley. 
Then they set sail, and with a favorable wind sent 
by the goddess, they were speedily wafted along on 
their voyage to Ithaca. 




XXXIII. TELEMACHUS MEETS HIS FATHER. 

By morning the voyagers safely reached the coast 
of Ithaca, without seeing anything of the vessel 
sent out by the suitors to lie in ambush. They ran 
their galley in to the shore and landed and pre- 
pared their morning meal on the beach. Telema- 
chus ordered the crew to take the vessel to the 
city, telling them that he himself had to go to the 
fields to see his flocks. 

As he was about to depart, a hawk appeared in 
the air holding a dove in its talons. In a few 
moments the dove dropped down on the sand 
in front of the young prince. Seeing this, Theo- 
clymenus, who was a soothsayer, told Telemachus 
that it was an omen from the gods, which meant 
that the family of Ulysses would prevail against 
their enemies. 

“ If thy prophecy come to pass,” answered Telem- 
achus, “ I shall give thee proofs of my friendship, 
but now I can only commend thee to the care of a 
companion.” 


200 


201 


Then calling Pi-rae'us, one of the crew, he said 
to him : 

“ Thou hast been faithful and friendly during our 
voyage, O Piraeus. Take this stranger to thy 
house and entertain him for my sake, until I shall 
come to thee.” 

Piraeus answered that the stranger should have 
welcome and hospitality in his house. Then the 
crew went aboard to proceed with the ship to the 
city, and Telemachus started off to the hut of 
the swineherd. 

Ulysses and Eumaeus were just then sitting to- 
gether taking their morning meal. The other herds- 
men had gone forth at early dawn to drive the swine 
to their pasture among the hills. Eumaeus and his 
guest soon heard the sound of footsteps approach- 
ing the door. The dogs heard it too, but instead of 
barking furiously as on the appearance of a stranger, 
they ran to the door wagging their tails and show- 
ing other signs of pleasure, as if they knew who was 
coming and were eager to welcome him. Ulysses 
noticing this said to Eumaeus : 

“ Some friend or companion of thine is coming, 
for the dogs do not bark, but go to fawn upon him.” 

Scarcely had he spoken when his son Telemachus 
appeared at the door. Eumaeus started up with a 
cry of joy and rushing forward embraced the youth 


202 


as a father would embrace his child returning 
home after a long absence. Then with tears of 
pleasure running down his cheeks the faithful 
swineherd said : 

“ I never thought I should see thee again when 
thou didst sail away for Pylos. But come in, my 
dear child, and stay with me a little while, for thou 
dost not often visit thy herdsmen, though it must 
be painful to thee to dwell in the city, seeing the 
evil deeds of the suitors.” 

“ My good friend,” answered Telemachus, “ I 
gladly come here now, for I wish to learn from thee 
about my mother, whether she is still at the palace 
or whether any evil has happened to her.” 

“ Thy mother is still at the palace,” replied the 
swineherd, “ and night and day she weeps for thee 
and thy absent father.” 

The young man now entered the hut and Ulysses 
stood up and offered him his seat, but Telemachus 
would not accept it. 

“ Keep thy seat, .stranger,” said he. “ My good 
friend will find me a seat elsewhere.” 

Ulysses then sat down and the swineherd made 
a seat for Telemachus of a pile of green twigs cov- 
ered with skins. He also brought food and drink, 
the best that he had, and placed them before him ; 
and the young prince ate heartily. When he had 


203 


finished his meal he inquired about the stranger, 
asking who he was and to what country he belonged. 
Eumaeus answered by telling the story the stranger 
had told himself. Then he said : 

“ He has come to my dwelling for help, but I 
give him in charge to thee for thou art better able 
to help him than I am.” 

“ Thou dost not speak wisely, Eumaeus,” replied 
Telemachus. “How can I receive a stranger in my 
house, since I am not master in it? It were better 
that he stay under thy roof and I shall send him 
garments and food, and aught else he may need. 
Ill indeed would it be to send him among those 
suitors who might insult him and perhaps do him 
grievous harm.” 

Then Ulysses, for the first time taking part in 
the conversation, said to his son: 

“ My friend, I am grieved to hear that such 
wrongs are done in thy home. But why dost thou 
submit to those things? Do the people hate thee 
that they will not help thee? Would that I were 
young again that I might come to thy aid ! If I 
were the son of Ulysses, I would die fighting in 
the palace rather than witness such deeds.” 

Telemachus looked with surprise at the stranger 
and then he answered him. 

“ The people do not hate me,” said he, “ but the 


204 


suitors are many and strong. They come from all 
the islands — from Dulichium, and from Samos 
and from Za-cyn'thus and from among the chiefs 
of Ithaca. They woo my mother, and consume 
our wealth, and seek to kill me. But now my 
mother grieves at my absence, so hasten, Eumaeus, 
to the palace and say to her that I have come back 
from Pylos. Tell it to herself and to no other, and 
I will remain here and await thy return.” 

Eumaeus willingly obeyed the command of his 
young master. He put on his sandals, and taking 
his staff in his hand, he set out for the palace. He 
had no sooner departed than the goddess Minerva, 
in the likeness of a beautiful woman, appeared at 
the open door of the swineherd’s lodge, and made 
a sign to Ulysses to come forth. Telemachus did 
not see her, for she made herself visible only to 
Ulysses. She wished to speak with him alone that 
she might instruct him what to do. So Ulysses 
saw the goddess, and the dogs also saw her, and 
seemed to know that she was more than an ordinary 
woman, for they retreated into a corner of the hut, 
whining as if in fear. 

Ulysses saw ; 

Telemachus beheld her not ; the gods 

Not always manifest themselves to all 

Ulysses and the mastiffs saw ; the dogs 

Barked not, but, whimpering, fled from her and sought 


205 


The stalls within. She beckoned with her brows ; 
Ulysses knew her meaning and came forth, 

And passed the great wall of the court, and there 
Stood near to Pallas. 

Bryant, Odyssey , Book XVI. 


The goddess immediately spoke to him and bade 
him make himself known at once to his son, and 
prepare to go to the palace to punish the suitors. 

“Fear not to go,” said she, “for I will be near 
thee and come to thy aid.” 

Then Minerva touched Ulysses with a wand of 
gold she held in her hand. Instantly the wrinkles 
disappeared from his face, his body gained its for- 
mer strength, and his beggar’s garb was changed 
into the dress of a king and warrior. Then 
the goddess vanished from his sight, and Ulysses 
returned to the lodge. When Telemachus saw 
him thus changed in appearance he exclaimed 
aloud in astonishment : 

“ Who art thou ? Canst thou be he who has just 
left me ? If so thou art some god, else thou couldst 
not thus transform thyself.” 

“ I am no god,” replied he, “ but thy father for 
whom thou hast so long mourned.” 

So saying he clasped his son to his breast and 
kissed him, while tears of joy streamed down his 
cheeks. 


20 6 


Telemachus could hardly believe that it was his 
father, for he could not see how a mortal man 
could so change his form and appearance. But 
Ulysses told him that it was Minerva who had done 
those wonderful things, and assured him that he 
was indeed his father Ulysses returned to his be- 
loved country after long years of suffering: 

“ Be sure of this, 

That no Ulysses other than myself 
Will ever enter here. I, who am he, 

Have suffered greatly and have wandered far, 

And in the twentieth year am come again 
To mine own land. Thou hast beheld to-day 
A wonder wrought by Pallas, huntress-queen, 

Who makes me what she will, such power is hers, — 
Sometimes to seem a beggar, and in turn 
A young man in a comely garb.” 

Bryant, Odyssey, Book XVI. 

Telemachus was now at last convinced that it 
was his father; and he threw his arms around him, 
and they embraced each other again and again, 
shedding tears of joy. Then they sat down and 
Ulysses in answer to the inquiries of his son, told 
him how he had been carried to Ithaca from the 
land of the Phaeacians. He told also how he 
had hid the gifts of the Phaeacians in the grotto, 
and how the goddess had changed him into an 
old man, and directed him to come to the swine- 



Meeting of Ulysses and Telemachus 




208 


herd’s lod^e to meet his son and consult with him 
about destroying the suitors. 

“But now,” continued Ulysses, “tell me how 
many they are that I may consider whether we two 
alone can fight them, or whether we must seek help.” 

Telemachus answered his inquiries. 

“ My dear father,” said he, “ all my life I have 
heard of thy fame as a brave warrior and a man 
wise as well as brave. But it is not possible for two 
men to fight so great a number. There are fifty- 
two who come from Dulichium with six servants, 
and they are the most valiant of its chiefs. Four 
and twenty come from Samos, and twenty from 
Zacynthus, and from Ithaca itself there are twelve. 
There is the herald Medon also and they have a 
minstrel and two servants who attend them at the 
table. I fear it would not fare well with us if we 
should attempt to fight against all these.” 

But Ulysses was not dismayed on hearing of so 
great a number of enemies. “ Have no fear, my 
son,” said he, “we shall have Jupiter and Minerva 
with us. And now I shall tell thee my plan. Go 
thou to the palace in the morning and mix with the 
suitors. Afterward the swineherd shall take me to 
the city in the garb of a beggar, and I shall go 
to the palace. If they ill-treat me or insult me, 
be thou patient. Even though they drag me to 


209 


the door or strike me with weapons, only reprove 
them with mild words. They will not heed thy 
reproof, but the day of their doom is near. And 
more I have to tell thee. When I nod to thee, 
take all the weapons in the hall and carry them 
to an upper chamber. If the suitors ask why it is 
done, say thou hast taken the weapons away to 
prevent them from being soiled or tarnished, and 
also that they themselves may not, if excited in 
their drink, use them upon one another and dis- 
honor their feast. But leave two swords, and two 
spears, and two shields for me and thyself. Re- 
member also that thou must tell no one that I am 
in the palace — not even Penelope herself.” 

Telemachus promised to carry out the instruc- 
tions of his father, and they spent the day together 
in the swineherd’s lodge. Before evening the god- 
dess Minerva again appeared to Ulysses, and touch- 
ing him once more with her wand, changed him, 
as before, into an old man in beggar’s garb. 

“ Then instantly 

Stood Pallas by Ulysses, and put forth 

Her wand and touched him, making him again 

Old, and clad sordidly in beggar’s weeds, 

Lest that the swineherd, knowing at a look 

His master, might not keep the knowledge locked 

In his own breast, but, hastening forth, betray 

The secret to the chaste Penelope.” — Bryant, Odyssey, Book XVI. 


STO. OF ULYSSES — 14 


210 


Soon afterward Eumaeus returned and told how 
he had performed his errand. He had seen Penel- 
ope and informed her of the arrival of her son. 
But a herald from the crew of the ship on which 
Telemachus had sailed, had also come to the palace 
to tell the news, and he had told it to the suitors 
as well as to the queen. 

Telemachus and Ulysses listened in silence to 
the report of the swineherd. Then they had their 
evening meal, and some time afterward the father 
and son lay down to sleep on beds of twigs and 
goatskins, while the faithful Eumasus took his place, 
as before, near the pens of the swine. 




XXXIV. THE INSOLENT GOATHERD. 

In the morning Telemachus got ready to go to 
the palace. When he was about leaving he ordered 
the swineherd to conduct the stranger to the city 
later in the day. 

“ The old man himself wishes to go,” he said, 
“ and, besides, I cannot care for all the strangers 
who pass ; I have troubles enough of my own. 
But many there are in the city who can help him.” 

Then Telemachus left the swineherd’s hut and 
soon he reached the palace. The first person he 
met was the nurse Euryclea, who welcomed him 
with tender affection. Quickly the news of his 
coming reached the ears of his mother and she 
hastened from her chamber to greet him. 

“ My dear son,” she cried, throwing her arms 
around him and kissing him, “ I did not think I 
should ever see thee more. But tell me hast thou 
heard aught of thy father ? ” 

“Dear mother,” answered Telemachus, “do not 
ask me to tell thee now. Go to thy chamber ; and 


21 1 


212 


promise that thou wilt offer sacrifice to the gods 
when by the aid of Jupiter we have punished those 
wicked suitors. But now I must leave thee, for I 
have to hasten to the market place to meet a 
stranger who accompanied me from Pylos.” 

Telemachus then left the palace and went to the 
market place. There he found many of the suitors. 
They came around him speaking friendly words, 
but in their hearts they had evil designs against 
him. He turned away from them, and shortly 
afterward he met his companion, Piraeus, accom- 
panied by the soothsayer, Theoclymenus. Piraeus 
had carried to his own house from the ship the 
beautiful gifts of Menelaus, and now he requested 
Telemachus to send some of his servants to take 
them to his own apartment in the palace. But 
Telemachus bade him keep them until the palace 
should be freed from the suitors. 

“ Perhaps,” said he, “ the suitors may kill me and 
seize all that is mine, and in that case I should wish 
that these things be thine.” 

Then he brought the soothsayer with him to the 
palace and entertained him hospitably. And after 
a little while, Penelope came and sat down beside 
her son, and again asked him if he had heard any- 
thing about his father. Yielding to her urgent 
request Telemachus then related to her the story 


213 


which King Menelaus had told him of what the 
Old Man of the Sea had revealed. 

Meanwhile, Eumaeus set out with the stranger in 
beggar’s garb to conduct him to the city, as Telem- 
achus had ordered. As they approached the suburbs 
they passed near a fountain which supplied the citi- 
zens with water. Here they met Me-lan'thi-us, one 
of the king’s goatherds, driving goats to the palace 
to make a supper for the suitors. Melanthius 
was a rude, ill-natured man and the moment he saw 
Eumaeus and his companion he cried out: 

“A well-suited pair, truly! Swineherd, who is 
that hungry-looking beggarman ? Give him to me 
and I will set him to work sweeping up my folds 
and carrying food to my goats and kids. But 
perhaps the knave is not willing to work. He 
prefers begging for alms. I warn him that if he 
come to the house of Ulysses, there are men there 
who will fling footstools at his head.” 

So saying, he rushed up to the companion of 
Eumaeus and made a thrust at him with his foot as 
if to knock him down. Ulysses was for a moment 
so enraged that he thought of striking the scoun- 
drel to the earth with the staff he held in his hand. 
He thought it wiser, however, to be patient for the 
time, and so he did not even answer his assailant 
by a word. 


214 


The blow moved not 
Ulysses from his path, nor swerved he aught, 

But meditated whether with a blow 
Of his good staff to take the fellow’s life, 

Or lift him in the air and dash his head 
Against the ground. Yet he endured the affront 
And checked his wrath. 

Bryant, Odyssey, Book XVII. 

But the swineherd, not so patient as his com- 
panion, lifted up his hands and exclaimed in an 
angry voice : 

“ May the gods send Ulysses speedily home to 
punish men such as thou. Then wilt thou quickly 
cease thy evil ways, wandering idly around the city 
and leaving thy master’s flocks to perish.” 

“ Dog that thou art,” replied the goatherd, “ I 
will one day drive thee from Ithaca; and vainly wilt 
thou hope for Ulysses to save thee, for he will 
nevermore return.” 

Melanthius then went his way, while Ulysses 
and Eumaeus walked slowly on to the city. 


XXXV. THE FAITHFUL DOG ARGUS. 


When they reached the city, Ulysses and the 
swineherd went straight to the palace. As they ap- 
proached, they heard the sound of music from 
within, for the minstrel Phemius was playing on 
his lyre to entertain the suitors, who were at their 
evening banquet. After gazing at the building for 
a few moments as if he had never seen it before, 
Ulysses exclaimed : 

“Truly, Eumaeus, this is a noble and beautiful 
palace. How lofty it is, and how strong are the 
battlements that surround it ! A fit dwelling it is 
for a king.” 

“ Thou art a man of some sense,” replied Eu- 
maeus, “and thou hast spoken well.” 

Not far from where they stood was the entrance 
to the stables of the palace, and in front of it lay 
a wretched dog, too weak to move a limb. It was 
the dog Ar'gus, whom Ulysses well remembered as 
an old and faithful companion. He had been 
the most beautiful of his dogs and the swiftest in 
the chase. But now he lay despised and neglected. 
The moment the faithful animal saw his old master 


215 





(2l6) 


V 


Ulysses and his Dog, Argus. 







217 


he wagged his tail and held up his head, and 
showed by other signs that he recognized him, and 
would gladly have run to his side had he not been 
too weak to move. 


A dog was lying near, 

And lifted up his head and pricked his ears. 

’Twas Argus, which the much enduring man 
Ulysses long before had reared, but left 
Untried, when for the hallowed town of Troy 
He sailed. The young man oft had led him forth 
In eager chase of wild goats, stags, and hares ; 

But now, his master far away, he lay 
Neglected, just before the stable doors. 

Ulysses drawing near, he wagged his tail 

And dropped his ears, but found that he could come 

No nearer to his master. 

Bryant, Odyssey, Book XVI. 

Tears came to the eyes of Ulysses when he saw 
that the dog recognized him, but he hastily wiped 
them away lest his companion might notice his 
grief. Then he said to Eumaeus : 

“ I wonder much that this dog is kept so ill. He 
is of noble form, but perhaps his masters found 
him of little use, not being swift to run.” 

“ The dog’s master died far away,” answered 
Eumaeus. “ He was the swiftest and bravest of 
the dogs of Ithaca when Ulysses left him and 
sailed away to Troy. He did not fear any beast 


2 1 8 

of the forest, and no beast that he tracked could 
ever escape him. But now there is no one to care 
for him.” 

The swineherd then entered the palace and went 
into the hall where the suitors were assembled. 
But the faithful dog, as if overcome with joy, died 
before his master’s eyes. 

The dog, whom Fate had granted to behold 
His lord, when twenty tedious years had rolled, 

Takes a last look, and having seen him, dies : 

So closed forever faithful Argus’ eyes ! 

Pope, Odyssey , Book XVII. 

After brushing away the tears that flowed down 
his cheeks at this pitiful sight, Ulysses followed 
Eumaeus into the palace. 



XXXVI. THE BEGGAR IRUS. 

Telemachus was in the hall when his father en- 
tered. As soon as he saw him, he sent Eumasus 
to take him some bread and meat, and to tell him 
that he might go and beg alms from the suitors. 
So Ulysses went round, stretching out his hand to 
each suitor and asking for help. Some gave him 
alms, and some inquired who he was and whence he 
had come. Melanthius was there, and he told how 
he had met the-beggar outside the town in company 
with Eumaeus. Then Antinous severely rebuked 
the swineherd for bringing the beggar to the city. 

“ Have we not vagabonds enough of our own 
here,” he said, “without bringing in strangers? 
Where didst thou find this fellow ? ” 

Telemachus now spoke out and begged Antinous 
not to insult a stranger in distress, but this only 
provoked the insolent suitor to abuse Telemachus 
himself. Ulysses then approached the table at 
which Antinous sat, and said to him : 

“ Friend, thou art a man of noble mien, like unto 
a king ; therefore it becomes thee, though thou thy- 
self dost sit and eat at another man’s table, to be 


219 


220 


more generous than the others. I also was once 
the possessor of wealth, and often I gave to those 
in need.” 

These words enraged Antinous, and in his anger 
he seized a footstool that lay near him on the floor, 
and struck Ulysses with it on the shoulder. The 
blow had no more effect on the frame of the strong 
man than if it had been the touch of a feather. He 
stood firm as a rock, and bore the outrage with 
patience, but he secretly vowed vengeance against 
Antinous. Then he went and sat down at the door, 
and prayed to the gods to help him to punish the 
insolent suitors. 

Telemachus was grieved to the heart at seeing 
the cowardly attack on his father, but he felt com- 
forted by the thought that Antinous, as well as all 
the other suitors, would soon be driven from the 
palace. Penelope also was much grieved when she 
learned that a stranger had been so ill-used in her 
house. She sent for Eumaeus and bade him request 
the poor man to come to her that she might welcome 
him and inquire whether in his wanderings he had 
heard aught of her husband. The swineherd told 
Ulysses, and he returned answer to the queen that 
he would come and speak with her in the evening 
when the suitors had left the palace for the night. 
After Eumaeus had conveyed this answer to Penel- 


221 


ope, he departed for his own lodge, promising, at 
the request of Telemachus, that he would return 
next morning. 

Meanwhile there came into the hall a common 
beggar, well known in the town for his greed and 
impudence. He was a great big fellow, tall and 
fat, but he had neither strength nor courage in pro- 
portion to his size. His name was Ar-nae'us, but 
the young men called him I'rus, because he was 
sometimes employed to carry messages, I'ris being 
the name of the messenger of Juno. 

As soon as Irus noticed Ulysses, he came up to 
him and attempted to turn him out of the hall. 

“ Get thee gone, old man,” said he, “ or I shall 
drag thee out. Dost thou not see how they make 
signs to me to do it? Hasten away, for I do not 
like to lay hands on an old man.” 

“ Insolent wretch ! ” replied Ulysses, “ I do thee 
no wrong. There is room enough here for both of 
us. I do not begrudge thee what thou canst get, 
and thou shouldst not envy me. But take care not 
to quarrel with me, else it may be the worse for thee. 
Aged as I am, I may do thee harm, if thou provoke 
my anger.” 

This enraged Irus and he began to bluster and 
threaten again, and at last he challenged the 
stranger to fight. The suitors laughed aloud at the 


222 


idea of a fight between the two beggars, and Anti- 
nous proposed a prize for the winner. 

“ Hear me, noble suitors ! ” he cried. “ The serv- 
ants are preparing two haunches of good goat flesh 
for supper ; let us give the choice of them to which- 
ever of these beggars shows himself the better man 
in the fight.” 

The whole company applauded the proposal, and 
they shouted to the two beggars to stand forth and 
do battle for the haunch of meat. Then Ulysses 
said : 

“ Friends, it is not fitting that one so old as I am 
should fight with a younger man, yet if it must be 
so, I am willing ; but swear to me that none of you 
will strike me while we fight and so give the advan- 
tage to my enemy.” 

They all promised that there should be fair play, 
and immediately Ulysses gathered up his ragged 
garments about his waist and stood forth prepared 
for the conflict. As the suitors gazed at him they 
noticed his broad shoulders and sinewy limbs, and 
one said to another : 

“It will go hard with Irus in the hands of this 
lusty fellow.” 

Irus himself was now much less inclined for fight 
than he had at first pretended to be. He would 
indeed have been glad of an excuse to withdraw 


223 


his challenge, and he seemed very reluctant to face 
the stalwart stranger. But the suitors forced him 
forward, and Antinous, observing that he trembled 
with fear, exclaimed : 

“ How now, impudent boaster; art thou afraid to 
fight this old man, broken down with hardships? 
If thou let him beat thee we will send thee to 
Epirus to King Ech'e-tus, who cuts off the noses 
and ears of strangers and casts them to the dogs 
to eat.” 

Then the two beggars approached each other. 
The first thought of Ulysses was to put forth all 
the strength of his powerful arm, and with one blow 
strike his opponent dead on the spot. But then 
he reflected that if he did so, the suitors might sus- 
pect who he was, and he therefore resolved to deal 
with him less severely. 

The godlike, much-enduring man, 

Ulysses, pondered whether so to strike 
His adversary that the breath of life 
Might leave him as he fell, or only smite 
To stretch him to the earth. As thus he mused, 

The lighter blow seemed wisest, lest the Greeks 
Should know who dealt it. 

Bryant, Odyssey , Book XVIII. 

Irus struck the first blow. He hit his opponent 
on the shoulder, but it seemed to affect him as 


224 


little as if it had been the touch of a child. In- 
stantly Ulysses dealt Irus a mighty blow under the 
ear, which hurled him to the ground with a broken 
jaw and blood gushing from his mouth. Then he 
dragged the unfortunate boaster out into the court- 
yard and set him up against the wall, saying to him: 

“ Sit there and frighten away dogs and swine, 
but do not again dare to insult strangers, lest some 
worse evil befall thee.” 

Ulysses then returned to the hall and the suitors 
invited him to sit down and join them in their feast. 
Antinous placed before him the haunch of venison 
he had won, and Am-phin'o-mous, another of the 
suitors, poured out a cup of wine and gave it to him 
to drink saying : 

“ Health and good fortune to thee, stranger ! 
Thy life hereafter may be happy, though now thou 
art poor and friendless.” 

Then Ulysses said : 

“ O Amphinomous, thou seemest to be a man of 
sense, and thy words are wisely spoken. Listen, 
therefore, and take heed to what I say. None of 
all the animals that dwell on the earth is weaker 
than man. For while the gods give him health 
and prosperity, he thinks not that evil shall ever 
visit him. But when ill fortune comes he bears it 
impatiently and with a troubled mind. Such is 


225 


man on earth. I, who am not what I seem, was 
once prosperous, and trusting in my strength, I did 
foolish things. Therefore no one should do evil 
or violence, even though he have the power to do it. 
Nevertheless these suitors waste the goods and 
insult the wife of an absent man. But he may 
not be long absent. I think, indeed, he is very 
near his home, and it will be ill for them to meet 
him when he returns.” 

“ For when he comes once more 
Beneath this roof, and finds the suitors here, 

Not without bloodshed will their parting be.” 

Bryant, Odyssey, Book XVIII. 

Amphinomous seemed to be very much im- 
pressed by the words of the stranger, for he made 
no reply but rose from his seat and walked through 
the hall for some minutes in silence. Soon after- 
wards the feasting was brought to an end, and the 
suitors departed for the night leaving the stranger 
guest in the palace. 



STO. OF ULYSSKS — 1 5 


XXXVII. DISCOVERED BY THE SCAR. 


After the departure of the suitors, Ulysses talked 
with Telemachus and said to him that he should 
now remove the weapons from the hall as he had 
before suggested. Telemachus hastened to obey. 
But first he sought out the nurse, Euryclea, and 
bade her shut and fasten the doors leading to the 
servants’ rooms. 

“ I wish,” said he, “ to take away my father’s 
beautiful arms and put them in a place where they 
will no longer be soiled with the smoke and dust. 
This stranger will help me, for it is right that he 
should do work for the bread he eats.” 

Some of the servants were friendly to the suitors 
and this was why Telemachus did not want them 
to see him remove the arms. As soon as the doors 
were fastened, they carried all the weapons to an 
inner room ; and then Ulysses bade his son go to 
rest for the night, while he himself would remain 
to talk with Penelope as he had promised. 

Telemachus then retired to his own room leav- 
ing his father sitting in the hall. In a little while 
one of the doors opened, and Penelope entered 

226 


227 


followed by a number of maid servants who came 
to clear away the broken food from the tables and 
put the place in order for the banqueting of the 
next day. 

While the servants were at their work, the queen 
sat near the fire, on a beautiful chair ornamented 
with silver and ivory. One of the women, Me-lan'- 
tho by name, noticed Ulysses as he stood waiting 
until Penelope should call him, and she spoke to 
him in a rough voice saying: 

“ Art thou still here, beggar ? Dost thou stay 
to spy upon the women ? Get thee out of doors, 
or I will drive thee forth with a torch from the fire.” 

“ Impudent woman ! ” replied Ulysses, “dost thou 
insult me because I am ill clad and must beg my 
bread ? I was once wealthy and dwelt in a rich 
house and had many servants, and often I gave to 
beggars such as I now am. But it pleased Jupiter 
to make me poor. Therefore, woman, beware lest 
thou, too, suffer evil. Perhaps the anger of thy 
mistress may visit thee with severe punishment.” 

Penelope heard the words of Ulysses, and she 
called the woman and sharply rebuked her : 

“ Art thou not ashamed,” said she, “ to insult 
a stranger? And didst thou not hear me say that 
I wished to see this poor man, to inquire of him 
about my husband ? ” 


228 


Then the queen ordered another of the women 
to place a seat near her own, and bidding the 
stranger sit down, she began to talk with him. 

“ Who art thou, stranger ? ” said she ; “ where is 
thy birthplace, and whence dost thou come ? ” 

The stranger answered that he had come from 
Crete and that he was a brother of Idomeneus the 
king of that island. “ There,” continued he, “ I 
saw Ulysses on his way to Troy; for a storm had 
driven his fleet to our shores. Idomeneus had 
sailed for Troy ten days before, but I entertained 
the king of Ithaca and his companions at my house, 
and they remained with me for two days.” 

Ulysses told this and much besides to Penelope 
to relieve her anxiety until he and Telemachus 
should have all their plans carried out. While he 
was speaking, the tears flowed down her cheeks, 
and when he had finished his story she said : 

“ Now, stranger, I will test whether what thou 
hast told me be true. If thou didst entertain my 
husband as thou hast said, tell me what kind of 
garments he wore and who was the chief of his 
companions.” 

“ Lady,” answered the stranger, “ it is now the 
twentieth year since I saw him, yet I will tell thee 
as it is in my memory. He wore a cloak of purple 
wool, fastened at the neck with a clasp of gold. 



Penelope 


(229) 


230 


The clasp was of wondrous design. It was a dog 
strangling a spotted fawn with its teeth and fore- 
paws, and all marveled at it, so skillful a work of 
art it was. The dog seemed as if alive and eager to 
destroy his prey, and the fawn struggled to get free. 
Beneath the cloak Ulysses wore a beautiful tunic 
which the women gazed upon admiringly. He had 
beside him a herald who was round-shouldered, of 
dark complexion, and seemed somewhat older than 
himself. The herald’s name was Eu-ryb'a-tes, and 
Ulysses honored him above the rest of his com- 
panions, for he was wise and prudent like unto his 
chief.” 

As she listened to this description which she well 
knew to be true, Penelope was overpowered with 
grief and for some minutes was unable to utter 
a word. When she had relieved her burdened 
heart with weeping she at length said : 

“ Stranger, thou hast hitherto been to me but 
an object of pity, but now thou shalt be honored 
as my dear friend. I myself gave him those gar- 
ments of which thou hast spoken. I folded them 
in my chamber and I put on the shining clasp. 
But I shall see him no more. Evil was the fate 
that sent him to hateful Ilium.” 

“O lady,” answered Ulysses, “cease from thy 
grief, for thou shalt see thy husband again, and he 


231 


will soon be here. I heard in Thes-pro'ti-a that he 
had lately been in that country and had gathered 
much wealth. But he had lost all his companions, 
for they slew the oxen of the Sun in the island of 
Trinacria, and Jupiter destroyed their ship with his 
thunderbolts. They all perished in the sea, but 
the chief himself was borne on the keel of his galley 
to the land of the Phaeacians, where they honored 
him exceedingly. He would have been here some 
time ago, but that he went to consult the oracle of 
Jupiter, at Do-do'na in the Thesprotian land, to 
know in what way he should return to his home, 
whether openly or in secret. Therefore have no 
fear, for thy husband is surely alive, and by this 
time must be near his native country. Certain I 
am, and I make oath to thee, that he will be here 
before this month ends.” 

Penelope was much comforted by the words of 
the stranger, and she ordered the servants to pre- 
pare a bed for him with beautiful rugs, and conduct 
him to the bath and give him fine garments to put 
on in the morning, that he might be her honored 
guest, and no longer a beggar. 

Ulysses begged to be permitted to wear the 
clothes he had on, as they were more suitable to 
his present condition. But he would be glad, he 
said, to be refreshed with a footbath if any of 


232 


the women would bring him a vessel of water and 
assist him a little, as his limbs were stiff with much 
walking. 

Penelope then bade Euryclea to wash the stran- 
ger’s feet. The old nurse seemed delighted to be 
asked to show this mark of attention to the poor 
man, and she said to him : 

“ I will wash thy feet, both for Penelope’s sake 
and thine own. For of the many strangers who 
have come here, I have never seen one so like as 
thou art to my master in voice and form.” 

“ Good woman,” replied the stranger, “ I have 
heard many who have seen both of us say that we 
much resemble each other.” 

Euryclea then brought warm water in a polished 
brass basin, and placing the vessel in front of 
Ulysses knelt down to bathe his feet. The logs 
of wood which blazed in the fire on the hearth sent 
a light through the hall, and Ulysses turned himself 
away from it so that the old nurse might not notice 
a scar that was upon his knee. 

This scar was the mark of a wound Ulysses had 
received in a boar hunt in Greece, when he was a 
young man, long before he went to the Trojan War. 
The boar had rushed furiously at him, and with its 
great tusk had torn through the flesh above his 
knee ; but the courageous youth had thrust his 


233 


spear through the beast’s shoulder, and killed it 
on the spot. 

Euryclea had often seen the scar, and she now 
recognized it at once when she began to wash the 
stranger’s knee. With a cry of joy she let his foot 
fall from her hands. It struck against the basin 
and upset it, and the water streamed over the floor. 
Then touching his cheek affectionately with her 
hand, Euryclea exclaimed : 

“ Thou art my dear child Ulysses. Well I know 
that scar.” 

The aged woman, as she took the foot 
Into her hands, perceived by touch the scar, 

And, letting fall the limb, it struck the vase. 

Loud rang the brass, the vase was overturned, 

And poured the water forth. At once a rush 
Of gladness and of grief came o’er her heart. 

Tears filled her eyes, and her clear voice was choked. 

She touched Ulysses on the chin, and said : — 

“ Dear child ! thou art Ulysses, of a truth 
I knew thee not till I had touched the scar.” 

Bryant, Odyssey , Book XIX. 

Penelope had not seen the basin fall nor had she 
heard the joyful cry of the old nurse, for after 
Ulysses had gone from her side she became ab- 
sorbed in deep thought, and gave no heed to what 
was passing around her. Euryclea was about to 
cry out to her to tell her that her husband was in 


234 


the hall, but Ulysses instantly placed his hand upon 
her mouth, and speaking to her in a low voice, said : 

“ Foolish woman, wouldst thou bring evil upon 
me now that I have returned to my native land 
after twenty years ? I must destroy those suitors 
before any know that I am here. Be silent, there- 
fore, or it will be ill for thee and for me.” 

Euryclea was too happy in seeing her dear master 
to say anything to displease him ; and so she prom- 
ised not to utter a word about his presence in the 
palace. Then she brought more water, and with 
tender care she bathed his feet and anointed them 
with oil. 


XXXVIII. THE VISION OF PENELOPE. 

After his feet had been bathed, Ulysses again 
drew his seat near Penelope’s chair, and they 
resumed their conversation. She told him of her 
griefs and troubles, how she thought night and day 
of her absent husband, and was sore distressed by 
the evil conduct of the suitors. 

“ But come,” said she, after a little while, “ I must 
tell thee of a dream I have had and perhaps thou 
canst expound to me its meaning. I dreamed that 
I saw twenty geese in our poultry yard eating grain 
out of the water. I was gazing at them with 
pleasure when suddenly a large eagle coming from 
the mountain bore down upon them and killed 
them all, scattering their limbs and feathers around 
the yard. Then he soared away into the heavens. 
I wept to see my geese killed, and my maids who 
were with me lamented also. But the eagle soon 
came back, and sitting on a projecting roof spoke 
to me with the voice of a man, and said : 

“ ‘ Be of good cheer, O daughter of Icarius, this is 
not a dream but a true vision. The geese are the 


235 


236 


suitors, and I, a while ago an eagle but now thy 
husband, have come to destroy them.’ 

“ Then I awoke ; and when I went to look, I saw 
the geese in the yard eating corn from the trough. 
What thinkest thou of this dream, my friend ? ” 

“ Lady,” answered Ulysses, “ there is no other 
explanation than thy own. The eagle told thee 
true and so it will come to pass.” 

“ Stranger,” replied Penelope, “ dreams are very 
uncertain, and all that they tell seldom happens. 
But I have something else to say to thee, and do thou 
keep it in thy mind. To-morrow may be my last 
day in the house of Ulysses. For I will propose 
a contest to the suitors, to shoot an arrow with 
the bow of Ulysses through twelve rings at the 
top of twelve poles, set in a row, as he himself used 
to do. Whoever shall stretch the bow and shoot 
the arrow through the rings shall be my husband 
and I will follow him to his home.” 

“ I shall now 

Propose a contest. In the palace court 
Ulysses in a row set up twelve stakes, 

Like props that hold a galley up ; each stake 
Had its own ring : he stood afar, and sent 
An arrow through them all. I shall propose 
This contest to the suitors. He who bends 
The bow with easy mastery, and sends 
Through the twelve rings an arrow, I will take 


237 


To follow from the palace where I passed 
My youthful married life.” 

Bryant, Odyssey , Book XIX. 

Ulysses approved of this proposal. 

“ Venerable lady,” said he, “let it be a contest as 
thou hast described. For before they stretch the 
bow and send the arrow through the rings, Ulysses 
himself will be here.” 

As it was now late in the night Penelope withdrew 
with her maidens to her own apartments, leaving 
Ulysses to retire to rest on the bed which the 
women had prepared for him. 



XXXIX. THE WARNING OF THEOCLYMENUS. 


Ulysses did not sleep, for his mind was occupied 
with thoughts of the work he had to do before he 
could be master in his own house. As he turned 
uneasily from side to side, filled with anxiety, think- 
ing about his plans, the goddess Minerva appeared 
beside his bed and addressed him : 

“Why art thou still sleepless, unhappy man?” 
said she ; “ this is thine own house, and thy wife 
and son are here.” 

“ O goddess,” replied Ulysses, “ what thou hast 
said is true : but my mind is sore distressed, think- 
ing how I can encounter those suitors, for I am 
alone and they are a great number.” 

“ Have no fear,” replied the goddess, “ I shall be 
with thee, and though fifty bands of men surround 
us, they shall all be vanquished. Sleep, therefore, 
and be not anxious, for thy troubles will soon be at 
an end.” 

Then the goddess shed a peaceful sleep over his 
eyelids, and she ascended to Olympus. 

Early in the morning Ulysses arose from his 
bed and went forth into the courtyard of the pal- 

238 


239 


ace. There he met Eumaeus, bringing three fat 
swine for the banquet of the suitors. The swine- 
herd and the beggar — as Ulysses still seemed to 
him — engaged in friendly conversation. In a little 
while the goatherd Melanthius also appeared, driv- 
ing before him some of the best of his flock for 
the banquet of the day. He again taunted and 
insulted Ulysses in abusive words, and even chal- 
lenged him to fight, but the hero made no answer ; 
he only shook his head in silence, as if in deep 
thought. 

Soon afterward another of the herdsmen, Phi- 
lae'tius by name, and the chief of them all, came 
bringing a heifer and some fat goats, and drove 
them into the inclosure where the other cattle 
had been put. Then he approached the stranger 
and spoke to him, but his words were very different 
from those of the evil-minded Melanthius. 

“Hail, O stranger !” said he. “May the gods 
send thee happiness, though thou art now in ill 
fortune. As I look at thee I think of my master 
Ulysses. Perhaps he is wandering somewhere far 
away, even with such garments as thine. He set 
me over his oxen when I was young, but now there 
are other masters who destroy what is his, if 
indeed he be yet alive. I would long ago have 
gone to serve elsewhere, but I still thought of him, 


240 


that some time he might come and drive these 
suitors from his palace.” 

Ulysses rejoiced in his heart to hear such friendly 
words, and he quickly answered, saying : 

“ O herdsman, since thou art a friend to thy mas- 
ter, I will tell thee, and I swear to thee besides, that 
he will certainly come while thou art here. And 
the suitors will be slain, and if thou so desire, thou 
mayest see it with thy eyes.” 

“ May Jupiter bring thy words to pass!” replied 
the herdsman. “ Then my master would know 
how ' ready my hands are to fight for him.” 

Meanwhile the servants of the palace were mak- 
ing preparations within for the usual banquet for 
the greedy suitors. The good Euryclea was busily 
occupied superintending the work and giving direc* 
tions to the maids. 

“ Come, some of you, at once, and sweep the floor, 

And sprinkle it, and on the shapely thrones 
Spread coverings of purple tapestry ; 

Let others wipe the tables with a sponge, 

And cleanse the beakers and the double cups. 

While others go for water to the fount, 

And bring it quickly, for not long to-day 
The suitors will be absent from these halls, 

They will come early to the general feast.” 

She spake ; the handmaids hearkened and obeyed, 

And twenty went to the dark well to draw 


241 


The water, while the others busily 
Bestirred themselves about the house. Then came 
The servants of the chiefs, and set themselves 
Neatly to cleave the wood. Then also came 
The women from the well. 

Bryant, Odyssey , Book XX. 

Soon afterward the suitors came and sat down at 
the tables, and food was spread before them, — the 
flesh of oxen and of swine and sheep and goats. 
Then Philaetius distributed bread in beautiful bas- 
kets, and Melanthius served round the wine. 
Telemachus set a small table near the door for 
his father, and he ordered the attendants to place 
food and wine upon it. They served the old man 
plentifully, giving him as much of the good things 
as he desired. This was noticed by one of the 
suitors, whose name was Cte-sip'pus, and speaking 
to his companions, he said: 

“ Behold how this beggar is treated with as much 
honor as ourselves. Let me also honor him and 
make him a present.” 

So saying he picked up an ox-foot which was 
lying in a vessel near him and flung it at the 
stranger. Ulysses bent down his head to avoid 
the blow, and the missile struck the wall be- 
hind him. Then Telemachus spoke out in angry 
voice : 

“ Ctesippus,” he cried, “ it is well for thee that 

STO. OF ULYSSES — 1 6 


242 


the stranger was not hurt ! For hadst thou struck 
him, my sharp spear would have pierced thy body.” 

Ag-e-la'us, another of the suitors, then spoke : 

“ My friends,” said he, “ let not the stranger be 
again insulted ; but I would say a word to Telem- 
achus. As long as there was hope of the return 
of Ulysses, there was no blame to his mother to 
remain alone and to resist the wooers. But it is 
now evident that he will return no more. There- 
fore let thy mother take for her husband whichso- 
ever of the suitors she pleases, and no longer will 
thy goods be wasted or thy house be troubled.” 

To this proposal Telemachus answered, saying 
that he could not force his mother to marry, nor 
would he thrust her forth from the house of her 
husband against her will. 

The banqueters laughed aloud, but it was as 
the lauo-hter of demons ; and a strange fear seemed 
to come upon them, for their eyes filled with 
tears. Then the soothsayer, Theoclymenus, arose 
and said: 

“Wretched men, some evil is surely about to 
come upon you! Your heads and faces and knees 
are wrapped in darkness, and your cheeks are wet 
with tears. The walls are sprinkled with blood. 
Dim shadows flit around, and the light of the sun 
has died in the heavens.” 


243 


“ The man is silly,” said Eurymachus. “ Send 
him to the forum, for there is not light enough for 
him here.” 

“O Eurymachus,” replied the soothsayer, “you 
have no need to order me away. Willingly I go 
out of this palace, for I see that evil is coming and 
not one of you shall escape.” 

So saying, Theoclymenus arose and left the pal- 
ace. Then the suitors rebuked Telemachus for 
receiving strangers and beggars into his house, and 
they told him to send them off to Sic'i-ly where he 
would get a good price for them as slaves. 

But Telemachus regarded not their insulting 
words. He silently looked toward his father and 
waited patiently, for he knew that the hour of deliv- 
erance and of vengeance was at hand. 



XL. THE CONTEST OF THE BOW. 


Penelope had been sitting on her throne in the 
banquet hall listening to the warning of the sooth- 
sayer and the insolent words of Eurymachus to her 
son. She now arose from her seat, and ascending 
the stairs of the palace went to the chamber in 
which the treasures of the house were kept. The 
famous bow of Ulysses was there, and also his 
quiver of arrows. 

It was a bow which the chief had received in his 
youth as a present from one of the kings of Greece. 
He prized it so much that he would not take it 
with him to the Trojan War lest it might be lost, 
and during his long absence Penelope had care- 
fully preserved it among the family treasures. She 
now took from the wall where it hung the polished 
case in which the bow was kept, and sitting down 
she wept aloud as she looked at the weapon which 
her husband had so often used. 

Reaching forth her hand, 

The queen took down the bow, that hung within 
Its shining case, and sat her down, and laid 
244 


245 


The case upon her knees, and, drawing forth 
The monarch’s bow, she wept aloud. 

Bryant, Odyssey , Book XXI. 

After thus giving way to her grief for some 
moments, Penelope wiped away her tears, and with 
the bow in her hands she, descended to the banquet 
hall. Then standing beside one of the pillars of the 
lofty room, she thus addressed the assemblage : 

“ Hear me, you suitors who waste our substance, 
saying that you desire me to take one of you for a 
husband. Now I propose a contest. This is the 
bow of Ulysses, and whoever of you shall bend it 
and send an arrow through the twelve rings of 
twelve poles that shall be set up, shall be my hus- 
band and I will follow him to his house.” 

So saying, she gave the bow to Eumaeus, order- 
ing him to place it by the wall in readiness for the 
suitors. The faithful swineherd wept when he took 
it in his hands, and the herdsman Philaetius, who 
stood near by, also wept when he saw it. 

Telemachus now got the twelve poles and fixed 
them standing upright in a row with the rings at 
the top in a line leading from the direction of 
the door. Then, lifting the bow, he took his place 
near the threshold to try his own strength. Three 
times he tried, and he might have bent it had he 
made a fourth attempt, but his father nodded to 


246 


him not to persist. So he laid the weapon by the 
wall, saying that some one stronger than he must 
now show his skill. 

Then Antinous proposed that they should all 
make trial, rising one after another in regular order 
from right to left. This was agreed upon, and the 
first to try was Lei'o-des, a soothsayer, the only 
one of them all who had not approved of the 
evil conduct of the suitors. He could not bend 
the bow, though he wearied his hands, for they 
were soft and tender, not being accustomed to 
such exercise. 

“ Friends,” he exclaimed, “ I cannot bend it. Let 
another try. But I think it will be an evil contest 
for many of us.” 

“ What foolish words thou hast spoken ! ” replied 
Antinous, angrily. “ Thou art not skilled in the 
drawing of bows, but others there are here who will 
soon bend it.” 

Then he ordered Melanthius to bring some oil 
and rub the bow with it to make it soft and flexible, 
so that they might stretch it and end the contest. 
When it was well oiled they tried, one after another, 
to bend the bow until all had tried and all failed. 
None could bend the bow of Ulysses. 

While the contest was going on, Ulysses noticed 
Eumaeus and Philaetius leaving the hall, and follow- 


247 


in g them out, he met them at the gate of the court- 
yard, and said to them in a low voice : 

“ Good friends, if Ulysses should appear suddenly 
now, what would ye do? Would ye defend him, 
or help the suitors ? ” 

With earnest words and with prayers to the gods 
that he might return, they both declared that they 
would defend him. Then he made himself known 
to them. 

“ I am Ulysses,” said he, “ returned to my country 
after twenty years of hardships. I know I am wel- 
come to you two. And now you must help me, and 
if the gods grant me power to destroy these suitors, 
I will bestow on you possessions and houses, and 
hereafter you shall be friends and companions of 
my son. I will now show you a mark that you may 
know that I am indeed Ulysses.” 

So saying, he uncovered his knee and showed 
them the scar. When they saw it they wept with 
joy, for they then knew he was indeed their master, 
and they threw their arms around him and embraced 
him. But he bade them cease from rejoicing, lest 
any one coming out of the palace should see it and 
suspect who he was. 

Then he instructed them what they must do to 
help him against the suitors. To Eumaeus he 
assigned the duty of bringing him the bow and 


248 


quiver when all the others had tried and failed. 
He also directed him to tell the women to lock 
the doors of the palace, and not to open them or 
attempt to leave the house, if they should hear any 
cries from the banquet hall. To Philaetius he in- 
trusted the duty of locking and securing all the gates 
of the courtyard, so that none of the suitors could 
escape, and none of their friends could get in to assist 
them. 

When these arrangements were completed, Ulys- 
ses returned to the hall and took his seat near the 
door. Eumaeus and Philaetius followed soon after, 
and mixed among the suitors. Eurymachus was 
just then making trial with the bow, and having 
failed to bend it, he cried out in a sad voice : 

“ Alas ! this will be a grief and shame among my 
people. I lament not so much the loss of Penelope, 
for there are many other beautiful women in Greece, 
but it will be a great dishonor to us that we are so 
much inferior in strength to Ulysses that we cannot 
bend his bow.” 

Then Antinous spoke out and said : 

“ It will not be so, Eurymachus, for we shall yet 
win. But this is the feast day of Apollo, the god 
of archery, and he is offended that we contest on 
the day sacred to him. Lay the bow aside, and let 
the poles stand. To-morrow Melanthius shall bring 


249 


goats, the best of his flock, and after sacrificing to 
the god, we will try again.” 

All the suitors were pleased at the proposal of 
Antinous, and they poured out libations of wine 
and continued their feasting. But in a little while 
Ulysses arose, and addressing the assembly, said: 

“Ye suitors of the queen, you do well to cease 
from the contest on the day sacred to the god. In 
the morning he will grant victory to one whom he 
chooses. But now give me the bow that I may try 
my hand and see if I have still the strength that 
once was mine.” 

A loud cry of anger arose from all the suitors 
at the presumption of a beggar in tattered garb ask- 
ing to be permitted to share in the warlike exercises 
of noble chiefs, and Antinous sternly rebuked the 
stranger at the door: 

“ Impudent beggar ! ” said he, “ art thou not con- 
tent to sit and feast with noble men ? Must 
thou also seek to compete with them in honorable 
contests? Hold thy peace, or we will send thee 
speedily to the land of King Echetus, from whom 
thou shouldst find no escape.” 

Then Penelope spoke a word for the stranger, 
saying that he should be permitted to make trial of 
his skill. 

“ Thou dost not expect, Antinous,” said she, 


250 


“ that if the poor beggar should bend the bow of 
Ulysses, he could expect to have me for his wife. 
No such hope can be in his mind.” 

“O Penelope,” answered Eurymachus, “we do 
not indeed think that he could have thee for 
wife, but it would be a disgrace to us if people 
could say : ‘ These men woo the wife of a king, 
and they are not able to bend his bow which a 
wandering beggar bends with ease.’ That would 
be much of a reproach to us.” 

“ But this stranger,” answered Penelope, “is a man 
of good seeming, and he says that he is of noble 
race. Let him, therefore, try his skill, and if Apollo 
give him the glory that he bend the bow, I will 
furnish him with fitting garments and send him 
forth to go wheresoever he may desire ” 

Then Telemachus, wishing that his mother 
should withdraw to her own apartments, and not 
be a witness of what he knew was soon to happen, 
spoke to her and said : 

“ Mother, it is for me more than any other to 
give or refuse the bow, and if such were my will I 
might bestow it on this stranger to take it as his 
own. Withdraw, therefore, with thy maidens to 
thy household cares, — the distaff and the loom, — 
and leave the contest of arms to men, for it is their 


concern. 


25 


The queen perceived the wisdom of her son’s 
words, and without making any reply, she retired 
from the hall with her attendants. 

Eumaeus, the swineherd, now took up the bow 
and the quiver and was proceeding to carry them 
toward where Ulysses sat. All at once the suitors 
cried out to him in angry and threatening words, 
seeking to stop him; but Telemachus, in a voice 
of authority, bade him go forward and give the 
weapon to the stranger. Eumaeus hastened to 
obey. He placed the bow in the hands of his mas- 
ter, and set the quiver of arrows at his side. 

Then the swineherd went to Euryclea to tell her 
to lock the doors of the palace, which was promptly 
done ; and the goatherd, Philaetius, took care at the 
right time to securely fasten all the outer gates, so 
that no one could enter from the city. 

After performing these duties, the two faithful 
servants returned to the hall to be ready for 
further service to their master, as soon as it should 
be required. Ulysses handled the bow with such 
ease and familiarity that the suitors were aston- 
ished as well as angry. 

“ This beggar,” said one to another, “ handles the 
bow as if he had as good a one at home, or as if he 
were skilled in archery.” 

But Ulysses paid no heed to their words. He 


252 


continued to examine the bow, looking at it on all 
sides to see that it was in perfect condition. And 
he bent it without seeming to make an effort. 

As a singer, skilled to play the harp, 

Stretches with ease on its new fastenings 
A string, the twisted entrails of a sheep, 

Made fast on either end, so easily 
Ulysses bent that mighty bow. 

Bryant, Odyssey, Book XXI. 


Then he tried the string and it twanged with a 
sound clear as the voice of a bird. Suddenly a 
deafening peal of thunder was heard, and Ulysses 
rejoiced, for he regarded it as a favorable omen sent 
by Jupiter. 

He now took an arrow and placed the notch of 
it against the bow. Then, without rising from his 
seat, he drew the string and shooting forth the 
arrow, sent it straight through all the twelve rings 
of the poles. 

He missed no ring of all ; from first to last 
The brass-tipped arrow threaded every one. 

Bryant, Odyssey , Book XXI. 

Thus Ulysses ended the contest of the bow. 
Then he cried out to his son : 

“Telemachus, the stranger has not dishonored 


253 


thee ! He has not missed the mark, nor did he 
labor long to bend the bow.” 

He nodded to his son as he spoke, and imme- 
diately Telemachus girt his sword by his side, took 
a spear in his hand, and came and stood by his 
father where he sat. 

He spake, and nodded to Telemachus, 

His well-beloved son, who girded on 

His trenchant sword, and took in hand his spear, 

And, armed with glittering brass for battle came, 

And took his station by his father’s seat. 


Bryant, Odyssey , Book XXI. 



XLI. THE DESTRUCTION OF THE SUITORS. 


Great was the astonishment of the suitors to see 
a beggar in ragged garb perform a feat which they 
had all tried in vain to accomplish. But Ulysses 
did not give them much time to express their sur- 
prise or anger. He bounded from his seat to the 
door and standing with his bow in his hand and a 
quiver of arrows on the floor beside him, he cried 
out in a loud voice : 

“The contest is over. Now I will try whether I 
can hit another mark ! ” 

So saying, he aimed an arrow at Antinous who 
was just about raising a golden cup of wine to his 
lips, little thinking that his doom was so near. The 
weapon struck him in the throat and passed right 
through his neck. He sank to the ground, and in 
his fall his feet struck and overturned the table and 
scattered the viands about the floor. 

In amazement the other suitors jumped from their 
seats, and looked round for the weapons that had 
hung upon the walls, but there was not a weapon to 


2 54 


255 


be seen. They did not yet, however, suppose that 
the stranger had shot at Antinous intentionally, and 
some of them cried out: 

“ Stranger, what madness has made thee aim thy 
arrow at a man ? Thou hast slain the best youth of 
Ithaca, and for thy crime thy body shall be given to 
the dogs and vultures.” 

But Ulysses was not daunted by their threats. 
He answered them in a loud and stern voice, and at 
last made known to them who he was ; 

“ Dogs ! ” he cried, “ you thought I would return 
no more, and therefore you wasted my substance 
and wooed my wife, having no fear of the anger of 
the gods or of the vengeance of man. But destruc- 
tion now awaits you all.” 

Filled with terror, the suitors turned around on 
every side seeking for a means of escape. Eurym- 
achus was the only one who had the courage 
to speak, and he raised his voice and said to 
Ulysses: 

“ If indeed thou art Ulysses returned to thy 
home, thou hast spoken justly, for much evil has 
been done to thee in thy house. But the man who 
was the cause of all, lies here slain. He it was 
who brought about these evil deeds, thinking not so 
much to gain thy wife as to rule over thy kingdom. 
But he is now punished, and do thou spare thy 


256 


people. As for us we shall gladly make full amends 
to thee for the waste of thy goods.” 

But it was now too late for repentance and so 
Ulysses quickly made answer : 

“ Eurymachus, even though thou shouldst give 
me all thy wealth I would not stay my hands from 
vengeance.” 

Then Eurymachus cried out to his compan- 
ions to prepare to fight for their lives: 

“ This man,” said he, “ will not stop until he has 
slain us all. Let us quickly draw our swords and 
fight. Hold up the tables as shields against his 
arrows, and try if we cannot all together thrust him 
from the door. Then let us alarm the city and 
soon he shall have drawn his last bow.” 

Thus speaking, Eurymachus drew his sword and 
with a loud shout rushed forward to strike Ulysses 
down. Instantly an arrow sped forth from the bow 
of the king, which pierced the breast of the assail- 
ant, and sent him lifeless to the ground. Am-phi'- 
mous next advanced with drawn sword, and made 
straight for the hero at the door, but Telemachus 
came upon him from behind and pierced him 
through the body with his spear. Then hastening 
up to his father, he exclaimed : 

“ Now, father, I will bring thee two spears and a 
helmet and a shield, and brazen armor; and I will 


257 


give arms to the swineherd and the goatherd that 
they may help us.” 

“ Bring them quickly, my son,” replied Ulysses, 
“lest I have naught to fight with, for only a few 
arrows now remain near me.” 

Very soon the weapons and the armor were 
brought, but while he had any arrows left Ulysses 
continued to aim at the suitors, and with every 
shot he struck one of them dead. When his 
arrows were all exhausted, he put on the brazen 
armor, instead of the beggar’s garb which he had 
cast off, and took in his hands two strong spears 
tipped with brass. 

But Melanthius the goatherd, at the bidding of 
Agelaus, one of the suitors, contrived to get through 
a small opening at the back of the hall, which had 
been left unguarded. Then he ascended to the 
room in which the weapons had been stored, and 
carried down shields and spears and helmets to 
the suitors. 

As soon as Ulysses saw Melanthius distributing 
the arms, he called to Telemachus and said that 
some of the servants must have proved treacher- 
ous. But Telemachus answered that the fault was 
his, for in his haste he had left the door of the 
storeroom open after taking out the armor and 
weapons. 


STO. OF ULYSSES — 1 7 


258 


Then they sent Eumaeus and Philaetius to shut 
the door, and ordered them, if they should find 
Melanthius taking more arms, to hang him to a beam 
underneath the roof, and leave him there to die. 
The two faithful servants hastened up to the cham- 
ber, and, as they expected, they found the traitor 
there. Instantly they seized him and bound him 
hand and foot with strong cords. Then they put 
a rope round his neck and swung him from a stout 
beam, and after mockingly bidding him keep watch 
on the weapons for the night, they locked the door, 
and descended to the banqueting hall. 

The goddess Minerva now appeared on the 
scene. This time again she took the form and 
likeness of Mentor, and when Ulysses saw her, he 
begged her aid, speaking to her as if to the old 
friend of his youth, though he knew it was the 
goddess. But Agelaus cried out to Mentor and 
threatened that if he should help Ulysses they would 
kill him when they had slain both father and son. 

Minerva was enraged at the words of Agelaus, 
and she spoke to Ulysses in reproachful language, 
saying that he was not fighting now as bravely as 
he had fought before the walls of Troy. She thus 
upbraided him to urge him to greater fury against 
the suitors. Then to put the strength and courage 
of the hero and his son still further to the test, she 


259 


withdrew from their presence, and taking the form 
of a swallow, she perched on one of the beams near 
the lofty roof of the hall. 

The suitors, led on by Agelaus, now made a 
united attack, all at the same time hurling their 
javelins at Ulysses and his small band. But 
Minerva turned their weapons aside, and caused 
some of them to strike the pillars, others the doors, 
and others the walls. 

Then Ulysses and his little party hurled their 
spears, and with each throw they killed a man. 
The suitors retreated in dismay to the back of the 
hall, but in a little while they again took courage 
and once more cast their javelins, only, however, to 
be once more turned aside from their aim by the 
watchful goddess. 

Again the suitors threw their spears ; again 
Did Pallas cause their aim to err. One struck 
A pillar of the massive pile, and one 
The paneled door ; another ashen shaft, 

Heavy with metal, rang against the wall. 

Bryant, Odyssey , Book XXII. 

But the companions of the victorious hero did 
not escape entirely unharmed. Amphimedon 
wounded Telemachus slightly on the wrist, and 
Ctesippus wounded Eumaeus on the shoulder, the 
weapon, however, only grazing the skin. Then 


2 6o 


the herdsman, Philaetius, struck Ctesippus through 
the breast with his spear, crying out, as the suitor 
fell to the ground : 

“ This is a present for thee in return for the ox- 
foot thou didst give to Ulysses in his own hall.” 

The battle now raged fiercely. Minerva from 
the roof of the hall showed her terrible aegis, or 
flaming shield, which struck mortal fear into the 
hearts of the remaining suitors. 


Then Pallas held 
On high her fatal aegis. From the roof 
She showed it, and their hearts grew wild with fear. 
They fled along the hall as flees a herd 
Of kine, when the swift gadfly suddenly 
Has come among them, and has scattered them 
In springtime when the days are growing long. 

Bryant, Odyssey, Book XXII. 


At last the work of destruction was completed. 
All the suitors were slain, but the minstrel Phe- 
mius was spared at the request of Telemachus, for it 
was only by compulsion that he had played on his 
harp and sung at the banquets of the suitors. Te- 
lemachus also interceded for Medon, the herald, 
who had loved him and cared for him when he was 
a child, and so his life was spared. 

Ulysses now bade Telemachus to call Euryclea. 
In a few minutes the old nurse came into the 


26 i 


hall, and beheld with awe and astonishment the 
fate that had befallen the suitors. Then the other 
servants who had been faithful and loyal to their 
mistress gathered round Ulysses and joyfully 
greeted him. They embraced him and kissed 
his head and shoulders, and he wept with joy 
that at last he was in his own home in the midst 
of loving friends. 

Forth they issued, bearing in their hands 
Torches, and, crowding round Ulysses, gave 
Glad greeting, seized his hands, embraced him, kissed 
His hands and brow and shoulders. The desire 
To weep for joy o’ercame the chief ; his eyes 
O’erflowed with tears ; he sobbed ; he knew them all. 

Bryant, Odyssey , Book XXII. 



XLII. PENELOPE HAPPY. 


Meanwhile Euryclea, in a transport of joy, has- 
tened up to the chamber of her mistress, who had 
retired to rest, to tell her the glad tidings of the 
return of her husband. 

“ Penelope, my dear child,” she exclaimed, “ Ulys- 
ses has arrived, and he has slain the haughty suitors 
who insulted thee and wasted his wealth.” 

But Penelope would not believe the old woman’s 
words. 

“ Dear nurse,” she said, “ the gods have taken 
away thy senses. Why dost thou disturb me from 
my sleep with thy idle story? Leave me to my 
rest. If any other of my women had come to tell 
me such things, I would have sent her away with 
a severe rebuke.” 

“ My dear child,” replied Euryclea, “ I tell thee no 
idle story. Ulysses has indeed come home. The 
stranger whom they dishonored and insulted in 
the hall is thy husband. Telemachus knew it, but 
wisely kept it a secret until his father had pun- 
ished the wicked suitors.” 


262 


263 


Then Penelope hastily arose and with tears in 
her eyes embraced the old woman and questioned 
her, saying: 

“ Dear nurse, is it indeed true that Ulysses, my 
husband, has come home? It is hard to think that 
he alone could prevail against those suitors, they 
being so many.” 

“ I did not see it done,” replied the nurse, 
“but I heard the cries of the suitors. And I saw 
Ulysses standing in the midst of dead men. And 
the bodies are cleared away from the hall, and the 
floors and tables are washed and sponged. But 
come, follow me, that your heart may rejoice. Thy 
long hope is accomplished, for thy husband has 
indeed returned to his dear wife and son.” 

But Penelope was still doubtful. She could not 
believe that one man could have slain all the suit- 
ors. It must have been done by the gods, she said, 
and Ulysses would never return, for he had surely 
perished, far from his beloved Ithaca. 

“ Why art thou thus incredulous ? ” replied Eury- 
clea. “ But come, I will tell thee something that 
will convince thee. When I was washing his feet 
I saw the scar on his knee which long ago the 
boar left upon him with his tusk. I would have 
told thee, but he placed his hand on my mouth 
and would not allow me to speak, for he had wisely 


264 


planned it otherwise. But now come and follow, 
and my life be the forfeit if I deceive thee.” 

‘Penelope then descended to the hall, but she 
was still in doubt whether to embrace the stranger 
as her husband or hold aloof for a while. 

There was a fire on the hearth and the blazing 
logs lighted the room. When Penelope entered, 
Ulysses was sitting by one of the pillars, with the 
light full upon him. He did not move or speak. 
Penelope took her seat at the wall opposite to him, 
and she remained silent for a long time. Once or 
twice she looked him straight in the face, and 
she thought she recognized him, but again doubts 
oppressed her mind and she could not believe that 
he was really her husband. 

At last Telemachus spoke to her and reproached 
her for her seeming indifference. 

“ Mother,” said he, “ thou art surely cruel of heart. 
Why dost thou sit apart from my father and not 
speak to him? No other woman would have been 
thus unfeeling to her husband coming home after 
twenty years of suffering. Thy heart is indeed 
harder than a stone.” 

“ My son,” answered Penelope, “ I am in doubt 
and trouble what to think. But I shall soon be 
certain whether he be indeed Ulysses, for there are 
secrets between us which none else can tell of.” 


265 


Ulysses now spoke for the first time since his 
wife had entered the hall, and addressing Telema- 
chus, he said : 

“ My son, thy mother will know me soon. In 
these rough garments she does not recognize me, 
nor can she think that I am her husband. But now 
let us consider what we must do that the friends 
of those we have slain may not come upon us.” 

“ My father,” answered Telemachus, “ thou art 
skilled in wise counsels and canst best tell what 
ought to be done. We shall follow whatever course 
thou mayst advise.” 

“It seems to me to be best,” answered Ulysses, 
“ that we bathe ourselves and put on fair tunics, 
and let the maidens of the palace also array them- 
selves in their best garments. Then let the 
minstrel play upon his lyre, and let the youth join 
in the dance so that the people outside will think 
it is a wedding feast. Thus we may prevent the 
rumor of the slaughter spreading through the city, 
until we go forth and consult with our friends in 
the country.” 

They all made haste to carry out these wise 
instructions, and soon the sound of music and 
dancing was heard throughout the palace. And 
people outside thought that it was indeed a wed- 
ding, and many of them said : 


266 


“ Truly, some one has married Penelope. Alas, 
that she could not wait in patience for her husband 
to return ! ” 

Ulysses was among the first to go to the bath 
and put on fresh garments, and he soon appeared 
arrayed in splendor and with the air of a king, 
for Minerva had shed beauty upon his form and 
made him taller and larger to behold. 

Pallas on the hero’s head 
Shed grace and majesty; she made him seem 
Taller and statelier, made his locks flow down 
In curls like blossoms of the hyacinth, 

As when a workman skilled in many arts, 

And taught by Pallas and Minerva, twines 
A golden border round the silver mass, 

A glorious work ; so did the goddess shed 
Grace o’er his face and form. 

Bryant, Odyssey , Book XXIII. 


Thus, Ulysses, in appearance and in reality a king, 
entered the great hall and sat down opposite to 
Penelope. Then he spoke to her and said: 

“ Lady, the immortal gods have given thee a 
hard heart. No other woman would have been 
so unfeeling to her husband coming home after 
twenty years of hardships.” 

“ Noble sir,” answered Penelope, “ I do not at all 
disregard thee. Well do I remember what thou 


267 


wert when thou didst sail away from Ithaca. But 
come, Euryclea, prepare a bed for him without the 
chamber, the bed which he himself has made. Carry 
it out and cover it with thick fleeces and beautiful 
rugs.” 

She said this to test whether he was indeed her 
husband, for she referred to the secret that was 
known only to her and to him. 

“ Lady,” replied he, “ thou hast given • Euryclea 
a hard task. It would not be easy for any but a 
god to remove that bed from its place. I myself 
made it. There was an olive tree, tall and thick, 
which grew within the court. I built a chamber 
round about it, roofed it well and fitted it with 
doors. Then I lopped away the branches, and, 
after cutting off the trunk above the roots, I 
dressed the stump and polished it and made it 
into a post for the bed. Next I made the frame, 
inlaying it with ivory and gold and silver, and 
stretched upon it thongs of oxhide purple dyed. 
I know not, lady, whether some one may not have 
cut off the olive root and taken that bed away and 
placed it elsewhere.” 

Then at last Penelope was convinced that it was 
her husband who spoke to her, for the way in which 
the bed had been made was a secret known only 
to themselves. She rose hastily from her seat, 


268 


ran forward, and, throwing her arms around him, 
embraced him and kissed him. After a few mo- 
ments’ silent enjoyment of her happiness she said 
to him : 

“ Be not angry with me that I did not at first 
embrace thee. I feared that I might be deceived, 
for many there are who seek to profit by decep- 
tion. But now I know that thou art indeed my 
husband.” 

Ulysses wept as she spoke, and he folded her in 
his arms, and thus at last the faithful Penelope was 
rewarded for all her long years of patience and 
devotion. 



XLIII. A LEAGUE OF PEACE. 


Ulysses was now master in his own palace, but 
he had yet to provide against the danger of a 
combination against him of the relations and 
friends of the slain suitors. The tidings of their 
fate would quickly reach their families, who had 
great influence and power in Ithaca and the neigh- 
boring islands, and it might go hard with Ulysses 
if they should unite their strength and make war 
upon him in his palace. 

But the first thought that occurred to Ulysses 
was to visit his aged father, Laertes. With this 
object he rose before dawn, and arousing Telem- 
achus he bade him call the swineherd and goat- 
herd, who had remained in the palace over night. 
When they were ready he directed them to take 
their weapons, and soon after they opened the gate 
of the palace and went out into the city. It was 
now daylight, but Minerva shed a darkness round 
the hero and his companions, so that they could 
pursue their way through the streets and out into 
the country without being seen by any of the 
people of the city. 


269 


27 o 


Meanwhile Mercury, the messenger of the gods, 
came down to Ithaca to conduct the souls of the 
suitors to the regions of the dead. The divine mes- 
senger held in his hand the golden wand with which 
he soothed men to sleep or awaked them at pleasure, 
and he called forth the shades of the chiefs whom 
Ulysses in his wrath had slain. 

Hermes summoned forth the souls 
Of the slain suitors. In his hand he bore 
The beautiful golden wand, with which at will 
He shuts the eyes of men, or opens them 
From sleep. With this he guided on their way 
The ghostly rout ; they followed, uttering 
A shrilly wail. As when a flock of bats 
Deep in a dismal cavern, fly about 
And squeak, if one have fallen from the place 
Where, clinging to each other and the rock, 

- 

They rested, so that crowd of ghosts went forth 
With shrill and plaintive cries. Before them moved 
Beneficent Hermes through those dreary ways, 

And past the ocean stream they went, and past 
Leucadia’s rock, the portals of the Sun, 

And people of the land of dreams, until 
They reached the fields of asphodel, where dwell 
The souls, the bodiless forms of those who die. 

Bryant, Odyssey , Book XXIV. 

In the regions of the dead the suitors saw many 
of the great kings and chiefs of Greece who fought 
at the Trojan War — Achilles and Agamemnon and 


27 


Ajax and other famous heroes. Agamemnon rec- 
ognized Amphimedon, for he once had visited him 
at his house in Ithaca, and now he inquired how 
he and so many chiefs, all of equal age, had thus 
come together to the abode of Pluto. Then Amphi- 
medon told the story of the suitors and their fate — 
how they had wooed Penelope for so many years, 
thinking that Ulysses would never return, and how 
at last he came back in the garb of a beggar and 
slew them all. 

When the shade of Amphimedon had finished 
telling of the achievements of Ulysses and the 
fidelity of Penelope, the illustrious Agamemnon 
spoke words of admiration of both : 


“ Never shall the fame 
Of his great valor perish, and the gods 
Themselves shall frame, for those who dwell on earth, 
Sweet strains in praise of sage Penelope.” 

Bryant, Odyssey, Book XXIV. 


Meanwhile Ulysses and Telemachus and the two 
faithful herdsmen reached the farm on which dwelt 
the aged Laertes. Next the house were sheds or 
huts in which his servants and workmen lived. 

Ulysses wished to see whether his father would 
recognize him, and so he directed Telemachus and 
the two men to enter the house while he himself 


272 


went down to the orchard in which he had learned 
that the old man was then busy at work. 

He found him alone, hoeing around a young tree 
that had been newly planted. He was dressed in 
humble garb, patched and soiled. On his hands he 
wore coarse gloves to protect them against the 
thorns of the bushes, and he wore a goatskin cap. 
Ulysses could not help shedding a tear when he 
saw his father worn with age and bearing the marks 
of sorrow and suffering. He approached the old 
man and began to speak to him : 

“ This orchard is well kept, old man,” he said ; 
“ every tree shows signs of careful treatment, but be 
not angry if I tell thee that thou thyself art ill cared 
for. Thou art burdened with age and thy gar- 
ments are squalid and unseemly. Thy master can- 
not neglect thee thus because of thy idleness, nor 
dost thou seem in form or stature as a servant, for 
thou art like unto a king. But tell me who is thy 
master ? And I would know, for I am a stranger, 
if this is Ithaca, as I was told while coming hither. 
I once entertained a man in my house who said that 
he came from Ithaca and that his father was Laer- 
tes. I entertained him well and gave him rich 
presents before he departed.” 

“ Stranger,” answered the old man, “ this is 
indeed Ithaca, but wicked men now possess it. 


273 


Would that thou hadst found here him of whom thou 
speakest ! Then he would have requited thee with 
gifts and hospitality. But tell me, I pray, how long 
is it since thou didst entertain my son, if he it was ? 
Unhappy man! I fear he has perished far from 
friends and home, where his mother could not mourn 
him, nor his father, nor his faithful wife, Penelope, 
wait by his dying bed. Tell me also who art thou 
and whence dost thou come, and where is the ship 
that brought thee hither ? ” 

Ulysses answered by a story such as he had told 
the swineherd, Eumaeus, in his lodge. But when 
he was finished he was so overpowered with 
emotion that he could no longer restrain himself, 
and throwing his arms round the old man’s neck 
he kissed him and told him who he was. 

“ I am that Ulysses of whom thou inquirest,” he 
exclaimed. “ I am indeed he, come back to my 
home after twenty years of suffering. But I tell 
thee more. I have slain the suitors in my palace, 
and thus punished them for their evil deeds.” 

But the old man hesitated to believe that it was 
his son : 

“ If thou art indeed Ulysses,” said he, “ give me 
some proof so that I may not doubt.” 

“ That I will gladly do,” answered Ulysses. “First, 
behold the mark of the wound which the boar in- 

STO. OF ULYSSES — 1 8 


274 


dieted upon me with its tusk. Then I will recount 
to thee the trees which thou once gavest me when 
as a child I followed thee in the garden. As we 
passed them thou didst tell me their names. Thou 
gavest me thirteen pear trees, and ten apple trees, 
and fifty fig trees, and thou saidst thou wouldst 
give me fifty rows of vines.” 

The old man trembled with joy and embraced 
his son, and when he had composed himself so as 
to speak he said: 

“The immortal gods are still the avengers of 
wrong, since those suitors have paid the penalty of 
their crimes. But now I fear their friends may come 
to attack us.” 

“ Be of good cheer,” replied Ulysses. “ These 
things shall be cared for. But now let us go to the 
house, for I sent Telemachus and the swineherd 
and goatherd to await us there.” 

When they reached the house they found that 
the housekeeper, an old Sicilian woman, had pre- 
pared the evening meal with the assistance of 
Telemachus and the two faithful men, who were 
now honored as his companions. But before sit- 
ting down to table, Laertes took a bath and 
anointed himself with oil, and the old Sicilian 
put a fine mantle upon him, and the goddess 
Minerva gave him strength and beauty, removing 


275 

all signs of grief and suffering, so that he looked 
once more like a king. 

Pallas gave the monarch’s limbs 
An ampler roundness ; taller to the sight 
He stood, and statelier. As he left the bath, 

His son beheld with wonder in his eyes, 

So like a god Laertes seemed. 

Bryant Odyssey, Book XXIV. 

Then they sat down to the banquet which had 
been prepared for them, and Do'li-us, one of the 
servants of the farm, came with his sons to see and 
welcome Ulysses. 

But in the meantime the news of the fate of the 
suitors had spread through the city, and their 
friends came to the palace and carried away the 
bodies. Then a great number of them assembled 
in the forum and Eu-pi'thes, the father of Antinous, 
stood up and addressed them saying: 

“ This man has done a wicked deed. He has 
slain our sons and brothers. If we avenge them 
not, the disgrace will go down to our children.” 

The herald Medon then spoke and said that 
Ulysses did not do these things without the will 
of the immortals, for that he himself saw a god 
standing near him encouraging him. 

Halitherses, the soothsayer, was also there and 
he spoke to the assemblage : 


2 j6 


“Listen to me, men of Ithaca,” said he. “You 
yourselves are to blame for all that has happened. 
You would not pay heed to my warning or to the 
warning of Mentor, to make your sons cease 
from wasting the substance of an excellent man 
and insulting his wife. And now I advise you 
to do naught against Ulysses, lest you bring 
greater evil upon your heads.” 

The words of Halitherses seemed to have a warn- 
ing effect upon some, but the greater number of 
the assemblage raised a great shout and declared 
that they would follow Eupithes, and fight against 
Ulysses. Then they rushed to arms and with Eu- 
pithes at their head they marched for the house 
of Laertes, for they had learned that Ulysses had 
gone there early in the morning. 

But Minerva, ever watchful of the safety of the 
hero whom she had so often protected, now ap- 
proached the throne of Jupiter in his palace on 
high Olympus and said to him : 

“ O King of Kings, what is now thy purpose ? 
Is it thy will that there shall be cruel war 
in Ithaca, or wilt thou decree friendship on both 
sides?” 

“My child,” answered Jupiter, “why ask me about 
these things ? For didst thou not thyself devise 
that Ulysses should return and punish the suitors ? 


2 77 

Do then, as it seems best to thee. But this I would 
counsel: since Ulysses has now punished those men 
for their evil deeds, let him reign in peace in his 
own kingdom.” 

“ Now that the great Ulysses has avenged 
His wrongs, let there be made a faithful league 
With oaths, and let Ulysses ever reign ; 

And we will cause the living to forget 

Their sons and brothers slain, and all shall dwell 

In friendship as they heretofore have dwelt, 

And there shall be prosperity and peace.” 

Bryant, Odyssey , Book XXIV. 

Such was the counsel and such the will of Jupiter. 
As soon as he had spoken, the goddess swiftly de- 
scended from lofty Olympus. 

In the meantime one of the sons of Dolius stand- 
ing at the door of the house of Laertes saw an 
armed force approaching from the direction of the 
city and he instantly gave the alarm to his master 
and his guests. Quickly they arose from the table 
and taking their weapons they hastily went forth 
to meet the enemy. They were a small force but 
they were valiant men. There were Ulysses and 
Telemachus with their two faithful followers, and 
there were Laertes and Dolius with six brave sons. 
Such was the army that marched forth to encounter 
Eupithes and his friends. 


278 


Soon they came close to the enemy and Ulysses, 
glad to have his son by his side at the moment of 
conflict, said to him : 

“ My son, well I know thou wilt now show thy 
courage and bring no dishonor on the race of your 
fathers who were famed over all the earth for their 
valor.” 

“ My dear father,” replied Telemachus, “ thou 
wilt quickly see that I shall bring no discredit on 
our race or family.” 

When the venerable Laertes heard these words 
he was proud of the young warrior and he said : 

“ A day of joy this is to me, indeed, when I see 
my son and grandson rivaling each other in valor.” 

As the old man spoke, the goddess Minerva stood 
beside him and bade him cast forth his long spear. 
Then Laertes hurled his javelin at Eupithes, the 
leader of the hostile force. The weapon struck 
him on the head, and piercing through his skull 
sent him lifeless to the earth. 

Ulysses and Telemachus now rushed furiously 
on the followers of the fallen leader, and they would 
have slain them all had not Minerva cried out in 
a loud voice: 

“ Ithacans, forbear from further combat. There 
must now be peace.” 

They heard the voice of the goddess and they 


2;9 


knew it, and they grew pale with fear. Then they 
dropped their weapons from their hands and fled 
away toward the city. Ulysses was about to pursue 
them, when Jupiter sent down a thunderbolt which 
flashed before the face of the goddess, who imme- 
diately addressed the hero saying : 

“ Son of Laertes, refrain. Cease from conflict, 
lest thou provoke the wrath of Jupiter.” 

Ulysses obeyed the command, and the goddess, 
assuming the form of Mentor, made a league of 
peace between Ulysses and his people. 


She spake, and gladly he obeyed ; and then 
Pallas, the child of aegis-bearing Jove, 

Plighted, in Mentor’s form with Mentor’s voice, 

A covenant of peace between the foes. 

Bryant, Odyssey, Book XXIV. 


This was the end of the wars and adventures of 
the famous Ulysses, who now returned to his palace 
where he lived the remainder of his life in peace 
and happiness. 





























































































































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■ 









































































PRONUNCIATION OF PROPER NAMES. 


A eha' ians (-yans) 
A eh' e ron 
A ehil' les 
M & a 
2E ge' an 
JE gis' thus 
JE gyp' tius 
2E ne' as 
2E o' li a 
2E' o lus 
2E thi o' pi a 
Af' ri oa 
Ag a mem' non 
Ag e la' us 
A' jax 
A 1 9m' o us 
A 1 ex an' der 
Am phi' a lus 
Am phim' e don 
Am phi' mous 
Am phin' o mous 
Am phi tri' te 
An ti ele' a 
An' ti elus 
An tin' o us 
An tiph' a tes 
An' ti phus 
Aph ro dl' te 
A pol' lo 
A' res 


A re' te 
Ar e thu' sa 
Ar' gus 
Ar nse' us 
Ar' te mis 
A' si a Mi'nor 
A the' ne 
At' las 

A' treus (-trus) 
Au' lis 
Bac'ehus 
O ad' mus 
-Ca lyp' so 
Qeph al le' ni a 
Qe' res 
-Gha ryb' dis 
Qi eo' ni a 
Qi eo' ni ans 
Qim me' ri a 
Qim me' ri ans 
Qir' 9e 

e^lyt em nes' tra 
-Glyt o ne' us 
-00 9y' tus 
-Co' rax 
-Crete 

Cte sip'pus (Te-) 
Qy' clops 
Qy' prus 
Qy the' ra 

281 


Dar da nelles' 

De' los 
Del' phi 
De me' ter 
De mod' o eus 
Dl an' a 
Dl' o eles 
Di o me' de 
Di o ny' sus 
Do do' 11a 
Do' li us 
Du lieh' i um 
Dy' mas 
P^eh e ne' us 
Eeh' e tus 
E' gypt 

E la' treus (trus) 
El pe' nor 
E pi' rus 
Eu mse' us 
Eu pi' thes 
Eu ry' a lus 
Eu ryb' a tes 
Eu ry ele' a 
Eu ryd' i 9e 
Eu ryl' o ehus 
Eu rym' a ehus 
Gor' gon 
Gree9e 
Greek 


282 


Ha' des 
Hal i ther' ses 
Ha' li us 
Hee' tor 
Hel' en 
Hel' las 
Hel' les pont 
He' ra 
Her' eu les 

a. 

Her' me§ 

Her ml' o ne 
Hes' ti a 
Ho' mer 
I ea' ri us 
I' da 

I dom e ne' us 

I do' the a 

II' i ad 

IF i on 

IF i um 

I' lus 

I o' ni an 

Iph thi' m a 

I' ris 

I' rus 

Is' ma rus 

Ith' a ea 

Jove 

Ju' no 

J u' pi ter 

La<; e dae m5' ni a 

La er' 9eus 

La er' tes 

Laes try go' ni ans 

La' mos 

Lam pe ti' a 

La oe' o on 

La od' a mas 

Lei' o des 


Leu eo' the a 
Leu ea' di a 
Lib' ya 
Lo toph' a gi 
Lo' tus 
Ma le' a 
Ma' ron 
Mars 
Me' don 
Meg a pen' thes 
Me lan' tho 
Me lan' thi us 
Mem' non 
Men e la' us 
Men' tor 
Mer' eu ry 
Mi ner' va 
Mi' nos 
Mo' ly 
My 9e' nae 
Na' iads (-yadz) 
Nau sic' a a 
Nau sitli' o us 
Ne op tol' e mus 
Nep' tune 
Ner' i tos 
Nes'tor 
Noe' man 
No' man 
O 9e' a nus 
O dys' seus (-sus) 
Od' ys sey 
CE no' ne 
O gyg' i a 
O lym' pus 
Or' pheus (-fus) 
Pal a me' des 
Pal la' di urn 
Pal' las 


Par' is 
Pa tro' el us 
Pe' leus (-lus) 

Pel o pon ne' sus 
Pe nel' o pe 
Per i me' des 
Phae a' ci a (-shi-) 
Pha e thu' sa 
Pha' ros 
Phe' mi us 
Phe' rae 
Phi lae' tius 
Plileg' e thon 
Plioe' bus 
Phor' 9ys 
Pi rae' us 
Pi sis' tra tus 
Plu'to 

Pol y phe' mus 
Pon ton' o us 
Po sei' don 
PrF am 
Pros'er pine 
Pro' teus (-tus) 
Py' los 
Pyth' i a 
Ro' mans 
Sa' m os 
Sar pe' don 
Selie' ri a 
S9yl' la 
Si 9il' i an 
Si 9 ' i ly 
Si' non 
Si' rens 
Sis' y phus 
Spar' ta 
Styx 

T an' ta lus 


283 


Ta' phi ans 
Te lem' a eh us 
Tel'e raus Eu rym'edes 
Ten' e dos 
Thebes 

-i. 

The o clym' e nus 
Thes pro' ti a 


Thes' sa ly 
Thrace 
Ti re' si as 
Tri n a' eri a 
Tro' ian 
Troy 

Tyn' da rus 


U lys' se§ 

Ve' nus 
Ver' gil 
Yes' ta 
Yul' can 
Za 9yn' thus 
Zeus (Zus) 


I 


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